New Solar Cell is the Size of a Lowercase Letter
The solar cells, about the size of a 12-point font letter ‘o,’ are being tested to eventually power microscopic machines, such as those used to test chemical leaks in the air.
The researchers at the University of South Florida say these are some of the smallest solar cells ever, with twenty aligning to form one panel at just one inch. Typical single cells are around two inches across on their own, and then form the large silicon panels we see on rooftops.
A panel, made from a non-silicon organic polymer, is not quite powerful enough to run the tiny chemical sensor, which the researchers are using to test the device. However, it can already can act as a 7.8 volt source, easily enough for many common hand-held devices like cell phones or iPods.
Lead researcher Xiaomei Jiang said the array will be optimized for higher voltage by the end of the year.
“I think these materials have a lot more potential than traditional silicon,” said Jiang regarding the use of organic polymers rather than traditional silicon. “They could be sprayed on any surface that is exposed to sunlight—a uniform, a car, a house.”
The research was published today under as the “Fabrication of organic solar array for applications in microelectromechanical systems,” in the inaugural issue of The Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy.
Photo Credit: gillographic on Flickr under Creative Commons license.
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November 6th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
this is not new. this is called a “photodiode.”
November 8th, 2008 at 7:40 am
Nice, but what font size?
Jiss
http://www.anolite.echoz.com
November 8th, 2008 at 8:32 am
very interesting
November 8th, 2008 at 9:19 am
Technology is amazing, isn’t it.
November 8th, 2008 at 10:16 am
Also, it says 7.8V is enough for an iPod or mobile phone. It takes alot of amperage to power those devices or recharge the batter. More then you could get in 1 12pt lower case o of sunlight.
November 10th, 2008 at 10:16 am
Ah, our new robot overlords will be powerful even when they are tiny!
February 10th, 2009 at 4:33 pm
There is a University in Swansea, here in the UK developing similar spray on cells
August 31st, 2009 at 12:40 pm
[...] copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) as the main component for the ink used to manufacture the solar cell. This nanoparticle ink allows manufacturers to completely deviate from the conventional expensive [...]
December 28th, 2009 at 9:39 pm
[...] Solar cells are getting smaller, and surgical implants are among the intriguing possibilities for the future use of microphotovoltaics. Just this month, researchers at Stanford University announced that they have developed a retinal implant with solar cells. The project pulled together ophthalmologists, electrical engineers, neurobiologists, and biophysicists. It resulted in a built in “high-def TV” that could enable some blind persons to see shapes and meaningful images, using tiny photovoltaic cells to convert light into electrical impulses. The project was developed with a silicon implant that used tiny “bridges” to follow the shape of the eye, and the use of micro-cells might enable an even more flexible design approach. [...]