• About Geek Beat
  • Newsletter
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Login
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Geek Beat

One of the world’s most recognizable technology news brands, delivering daily tech news, tips, and reviews.

  • News
    • Apple
    • CES
    • Editor’s Choice
    • Google
    • How To’s
    • Microsoft
    • Music
    • Mobility
    • NABShow
    • Photography
  • Episodes
  • Reviews
  • Videos
  • Connect With Us
    • Chat Rooms
    • DropCams
    • Geek Beat Live!
    • Product Review Submissions
Home > News > MIT’s new Solar Panels, Printed on Paper!

MIT’s new Solar Panels, Printed on Paper!

July 13, 2011 by Nicholas Warsza

Is your electricity bill through the roof? Do you like the idea of solar panels, but not the cost? With a new solar technology from MIT, you may be able to incorporate solar panels into things like curtains and wallpaper.

MIT has developed a technology in which a flexible solar panel can be printed on ordinary items such as paper, cloth or plastic. The previous manufacturing of solar panels consisted of exposing the substrates to high temperatures or liquids. This new process is done with a vacuum, five layers of material, different vapors and a temperatures of less that 120 degrees Celsius. This process is gentler on the items than before, allowing the paper, cloth and plastic to be the basis for panels.

There are two more things that make these solar panels a lot different than conventional ones, the first one being the cost. MIT has stated that to make one of these panels costs only a little bit more than a regular ink-jet print and is almost as easy to do. Secondly, the panels are extremely durable and, can still function after hundreds of folds. As an example of how durable the panels are, the researchers printed a panel onto a piece of PET plastic and folded it 1000 times.  Amazingly, it still worked! Also, text can be displayed on top of the panel and it will still function. Unlike previous solar panels, these are extremely flexible and their applications are endless.  One solar panel made from an 8 1/2 x 11-inch piece of paper placed in ambient indoor lighting can power less than 50 volts. That’s enough to operate small devices. What do you think of these new solar panels? Will we be seeing them incorporated into our everyday living? Leave a comment below.

(via Crave)

Filed Under: News Tagged With: green energy, MIT, solar

About Nicholas Warsza

Nicholas is new to the blogging scene, but has been passionate about technology since he has been seven. He loves all things technology, especially things with an ease of use, and new inventions that help people in need. He currently attends Westgate Collegiate, plays piano and trombone. He is a blogger at Webbeat.tv, Geekbeat.tv, and Onemansblog.com. BTW he's only 13.
You can follow him on Twitter @NicholasWars
Check out his Google+ profile atNicholas' Google profile

Comments

  1. richard woods says

    August 2, 2011 at 9:43 am

    I will love it if it remains afordable, and if the technology is not squelceh for some unknown reason. Bring it on.

Popular Posts

  • How To Keep A Constant In Excel And Other Spreadsheets by Scott Ellis | posted on April 19, 2012 | under News, Tutorial
  • How to Use Your Own Router with AT&T U-verse by Chris Bramble | posted on February 17, 2014 | under News, Tutorial
  • How To Add Sound and Voice to Your Photos by giovanni | posted on July 22, 2013 | under Episodes
  • The Complete Guide to Installing A PV (Photovoltaic) Solar Panel System by John P. | posted on September 9, 2013 | under Episodes
  • How To Scan and Convert Film Negatives to Digital for FREE! by Mark Zamora | posted on April 12, 2012 | under News, Tutorial
  • How To: Setting up the QNAP TVS-463 NAS by Robert Albury | posted on August 12, 2015 | under Tutorial
  • How Much Money Will Fit in a Briefcase? by John P. | posted on September 26, 2013 | under Episodes
  • Up, Down, Left, Right, Click! by Jenn Castillo | posted on August 10, 2010 | under News
  • GSM, CDMA and LTE: A Guide to Mobile Network Standards by Benjamin J. Roethig | posted on March 4, 2013 | under News
  • How to Access Advanced Boot Options in Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8 by Robert Albury | posted on September 10, 2014 | under Tutorial

Recent Posts

  • Go Mic Mobile Wireless System for Mobile Filmmakers
  • A RAY OF LIGHT
  • Keep Devices Charged Anywhere in the World with the Twist Plus World Charging Station
  • Final Leaked iPhone 7 Details Before The Big Event
  • Should Snapchat Be A Part of Your Digital Strategy?

Recent Comments

  • Ricardo Garza on Streambox Announces 360 Live Video Streaming to YouTube
  • Sunbya on Review: Blue Lola Headphones bring unparalleled quality
  • Jay Anderson on CES2016 – Autel Robotics X-Star Quadcopters
  • Scott Ellis on CES2016 – The Parrot DISCO – The Worlds First Fixed Wing Consumer Drone
  • Ricardo Garza on CES2016 – The Parrot DISCO – The Worlds First Fixed Wing Consumer Drone

Tags

3D Amazon Apple apps audio bluetooth business CE Line Shows 2013 CES computers fitness gadgets games gaming geek geek beat GeekBeat geek house Google health how-to ios john p. kickstarter Microsoft mobile Mobility Music nabshow new building Other photography Reviews robots Samsung social media speakers storage tech technology travel Tutorial vehicles video vlog

Copyright © 2019 · Geek Media on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in