Nano Particle Solar Panels Just Around The Corner

The Holy Grail of solar technology has been panels on the molecular level. Well, the good news is nano particle solar panels are just around the corner.

Solar panels have always been a great idea that hasn’t translated into a practical platform very well. There are two primary problems. The first is the cost of manufacturing has always been high. Without government subsidies, it is hard to believe solar would be anywhere near where it is now. The second problem is the efficiency. Solar panels are pathetically inefficient. In most commercial units, only 8 to 15 percent of the energy hitting the panels is converted to electricity. That just doesn’t cut it if we want to see solar used on a massive scale.

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Overcoming cost and efficiency issues is not a simple matter. Both are hurdles that scientists have fiddled with endlessly in an effort to solve, and the results have been discouraging. A few companies have produced experimental panels that have improved efficiency up to 40 percent, but none have made it to market. On the cost front, prices have come down because of the savings involved in the sheer volume of production. That being said, only one technology has really offered the hope of a global solution – nanotechnology.

Nanotechnology is network computing by any other name. Just as a company might set up a network of computers to process data and problems, nanotechnology does the very same thing. The only real difference is it does it at a molecular level. The technology works by creating tiny molecular computers about the size of an atom. A single computer isn’t very smart and can’t do much. Cumulatively, however, billions of them connected together can.

So, how does this translate to solar power? Well, the theory is you could create a nanotechnology matrix where the tiny units each acted as molecular solar panels. While each one would produce a tiny amount of electricity, that figure grows rapidly when you consider what billions could do. Even better, the size of the “panels” would be so small that they could be put into anything, including ink or paint. In fact, this is about to happen.

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Solexant is a Silicon Valley company that works in the field of nano solar technology. It has figured out how to use the technology in ink. Even better, it is ready to do it on a commercial level. How close is it to coming to market? Well, venture capital companies have just invested $41.5 million in the company for the purpose of producing the printing technology needed. Instead of glass based solar panels, this system will “print” the ink on flexible metal that rolls by like tinfoil.

The new technology is a winner on two fronts. First, it will cut the cost of production in half. Second, the efficiency of the new panels is not known, but the fact they can be applied in just about any situation makes them a more viable platform than traditional glass panels.

The nano solar revolution is upon us. The next step will change the world. What is it? When you can simply paint the panels onto any surface as part of a paint job. Imagine the entire body of your car or home acting as a large solar panel. It would be a brave new world indeed.

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