Printing Solar Cells with Inkjet Printers
Sometimes it is amazing to hear the innovation that takes place in our day to day lives. On this blog, I have discussed about inkjet printers that can print printed circuit boards, menu cards, microchips, 3D models and list goes on. This time round, I want to introduce solar cells that can be printed from inkjet printers.
Researchers at New Jersey Institute of Technology have developed a process of printing solar cells on flexible plastic using inkjet printers. This development could change the face of energy sources in the future if it takes off. Power problems in many parts of the World can be solved in a cost-effective manner. Regular solar panels require purified silicon which is expensive and hard to get hold of for general consumers.
The technology behind harnessing solar energy from the Sun is simple enough. It involves segregation of solar energy into positive and negative charges and sending it to different electrodes; current flows through.
… took the carbon nanotubes and combined them with tiny carbon Buckyballs (known as fullerenes) to form snake-like structures. Buckyballs trap electrons, although they can’t make electrons flow. Add sunlight to excite the polymers, and the buckyballs will grab the electrons. Nanotubes, behaving like copper wires, will then be able to make the electrons or current flow.
About the author:
Abhinav has been blogging about printing and related technologies on CreativeCloud for several years. He is also a project manager for a large technology company.
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