Hype or not, but it’s certainly no longer a science fiction, MIT researchers have found out ways to print solar cell on paper! When this technology goes commercial, as long it promises energy efficiency, cheap and abundant energy can be harvested. The idea is that if solar cell can be printed on paper, it can also be printed on many other materials. Maybe paper is not the idealistic material for harvesting solar power for it’s easy to be subjected to weak durability, the more reliable materials are needing to be used for such purpose — so spray those solar cells onto the more durable materials.
Imagine solar cell can be in a form of paint? I wonder if that is even realistic! I’m a novice at best when it comes to this subject, but using paint to generate needed energy will surely turn the energy industry upside down. It’s all depending on how much and how efficient painted solar cell can be as it generates energy from sunlight — considering this as something real even though it’s more like an idea that so far can only be drawn on paper. I don’t know, but if they can print solar cell onto paper, I guess they can use a brush to paint solar cell as if one paints the house. Unfortunately, they are talking about the process similar to an inkjet to coat solar cell onto paper, because I’m hoping that the process is much more simpler such as how I have just described.
Solar technology seems not to be as efficient in harvesting energy as what we’re currently, widely using, but I think with practice and unwavering commitment, solar power can be harvested efficiently. When that becomes a reality, abundant amount of green energy is something that everyone can take for granted. Will that day come? With solar cell and maybe others… that day is surely coming soon. If not, something else will eventually come along to solve that very need. Source.
Vinh Nguyen
