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First Solar Cell Printed on Paper Achieved by MIT Scientists

by Matthew Zuras on May 7, 2010 at 08:10 AM

MIT paper solar cells
Scientists at the Eni-MIT Solar Frontiers Research Center have successfully developed the first solar cells printed on paper, using a process similar to inkjet printing. Organic semiconductors in the form of carbon-based dyes were applied to paper, resulting in a solar cell with a 1.5- to 2-percent sunlight conversion efficiency rate. (Current thin-film solar cells have achieved record efficiency around 19-percent.)

But the technique is still in the research phase, and won't be commercialized anytime soon. The goal is, of course, to reach a higher efficiency rate while maintaining the thinness of the material. If the cells could be simply pasted up like wallpaper, widespread adoption of solar power might be even easier. The Center's director, Vladimir Bulovic, showed off the printed prototype at a press conference on Tuesday, and suggested that if only 0.3-percent of the country implemented solar cells with 10-percent efficiency, we can generate three times the energy we currently need. [From: CNET]

Tags: AlternativeEnergy, eni, green, greentech, mit, printing, solar, SolarCell, SolarEnergy, SolarPower, top

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