MIT scientists have created incredible new solar cells: as thin as a human hair and ultra-light! Heavy old solar panels may soon be a thing of the past.
And it would also be time: while greatly improving its efficiency, the shape of the solar panel hasn't seen much change in decades. It took MIT nanotechnology to produce advanced design and new capabilities for solar cells. Capabilities that could spread its potential out of all proportion.
Solar cells as thin as a human hair
The ultralight solar cells developed by MIT are based on a material called Dyneema, which weighs just 13 grams per square meter, but is so strong that it is also used to produce the fabrics that equip bulletproof vests.
The new solar cells are created using printable electronic inks and weigh 100 times less than traditional solar panels, but they are capable of producing 18 times more energy per kilogram compared to the old panels.
The research was conducted in MIT's Organic and Nanostructured Electronics (ONE Lab), directed by Vladimir Bulovi. The full study was presented in the latest issue of the journal Small Methods (I link it here).
Possible applications
When they can be produced on a large scale, we will have ultralight solar cells that are easy to transport and install, which could easily be applied to camping tarps, boat sails, drone wings, you name it.
These innovative cells can transform any surface into an energy source. Imagine the significance of this discovery in the field of renewable energy: it would be a real turning point, capable of making thesolar power increasingly accessible and versatile.
