Solar cell technology is primarily silicon based, that is refined sand to you and me, which has come leap and bound in production and efficiency. While they may be idea for many applications such as roof mounted solar panels they do not lend themselves easily to integration in to other uses or materials like clothing.
Scientists are looking to further the range of suitable substances that are able to produce a photovoltaic reaction and thus generate electricity. One field of developments is organic carbon based dyes.
The advantage of dyes is that they can be printed or incorporated easily on to various materials and add very little weight to the end product. Reducing the weight of the energy source, which can be up to 40 times lighter than silicon based cells, has many advantages where the weight is of importance.
At the moment electrical efficiency is not comparable with silicon photovoltaic cells and for producing energy in your home these are still the best solution. On the other hand small lightweight devices or clothing, mobile phones or bag, would be ideal candidates for organic dyes.
You music player or cell phone casing can contain the organic material and be self powering. Clothing could charge batteries as you walk around. Maybe some years in to the future your energy production could come in the form of a spray or paint that can self organizes itself and that would mean its uses are unlimited.
For the moment this new technology currently produces about 1/3 or the electricity of silicon based solar cells, but at a much much reduced weight. Production cost will come down as it becomes streamline and handheld devices will become party self powered initially.
The current advantage to you and me is the need for recharging our devices every night might soon become a thing of the past. It’s a small inconvenience every little bit helps.
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