A team of researchers at MIT's Gleason Laboratory created a revolutionary new way to print Solar Cells. The five layer printing process, uses vapors and temperatures less than 120 degrees Celsius to produce simple, inexpensive solar cell's on paper, cloth or plastic.
It might look like a regular sheet of paper with an intricate pattern printed on it. But, as seen in this video that MIT posted: after the paper is attached to the multimeter via two wires and a light is flashed on the paper, the multimeter instantly starts to display the voltage produced by the paper cell!
If you're wondering how this is possible! The Secret is in the Special Ink they use to create the printed photovoltaic cell, or Polymer Solar Cell. But this specific technology that MIT researchers are working on is new and MIT calls their Solar Cell "Organic".
- So why is MIT calling their Solar Cell, an Organic Solar Cell?
"Organic" is a term with many meanings. Despite this, most people associate the word "Organic" with "Natural" and this confusion raises two Very Important Questions:
- What exactly, is in this Solar Ink?
- Is it Safe?
The Ink is said to consist of a special blend of conjugated polymers and organic solvents, but the rest is unclear.
In their Conclusion section; Wikipedia mentions that the process involves "Nanostructures".
"Still, organic PV devices show great promise for decreasing the cost of solar energy to the point where it may become widespread in the decades ahead. While great progress has been made in the last ten years with respect to understanding the chemistry, physics, and materials science of organic photovoltaics, work remains to be done to further improve their performance. Specifically, novel nanostructures must be optimized to promote charge carrier diffusion; transport must be enhanced through control of order and morphology; and interface engineering must be applied to the problem of charge transfer across interfaces."
"Still, organic PV devices show great promise for decreasing the cost of solar energy to the point where it may become widespread in the decades ahead. While great progress has been made in the last ten years with respect to understanding the chemistry, physics, and materials science of organic photovoltaics, work remains to be done to further improve their performance. Specifically, novel nanostructures must be optimized to promote charge carrier diffusion; transport must be enhanced through control of order and morphology; and interface engineering must be applied to the problem of charge transfer across interfaces."
- Wikipedia
In this case; MIT is using Genetically Modified Carbon Nano tube particles. This is the part that I found concerning! I love technology... But, when people start playing around with DNA, Nanotechnology and Viruses, it makes me very uneasy to say the least!
I looked into this further and found that MIT Researchers have in fact, Genetically Modified the M13 Virus, altering its DNA and attached it to a Carbon Nanotube.
MIT did so, with the intention of incorporating this Virus/Nanostructure into their "Solar Ink" because they believe it will significantly improve the efficiency of solar cells.
Sounds like science fiction, but its reality! My source comes directly from the April 25th 2011 MIT News article titled "Solar Power Goes Viral".
This Genetically Modified M13 Virus/Carbon Nano Tube, looks pretty ominous.
- What do you think?
- Is this genetically manipulated mutation really Good for Humanity?
- Or could it Contaminate our Biosphere?
These are relevant questions to ask, but also questions that MIT should answer! Tampering with Nature has serious consequences, and to call it Organic is misleading to say the least.
In the future! If, this technology is deemed safe! People could print these solar cells in a manner that is similar to the one used to make the metallic lining found in potato chip bags; which can be created inexpensively, and on a large commercial scale.
It sounds optimistic! but, before it gets to that stage! I think its important to know how this special "Solar Ink" reacts in nature, how it decomposes, and if there's any risk of contaminating nature in any way.
Another Question to ask, is regarding the viability and functionality of the technology itself, for instance:
- How long could one of these solar cells last, and how resilient would it be?
To help answer this question; MIT researchers printed a solar cell on a sheet of PET plastic and claim to have folded and unfolded it 1,000 times, with no significant loss of performance. By contrast, a commercially produced solar cell on the same material is said to have failed after a single folding.
"We have demonstrated quite thoroughly the robustness of this technology. We think we can fabricate scalable solar that can reach record-high watts-per-kilogram performance. For solar cells with such properties, a number of technological applications open up."
- MIT Professor of Electrical Engineering; Vladimir Bulovic
Presently the paper printed solar cells only have an efficiency of 1% and Professor Bulovic admits the process requires more fine-tuning. Bulovic also suggested that; despite the low rate of efficiency, at this point, it should be good enough to power small electronic devices.
My Conclusion:
Printing solar cells with MIT's "Oxidative Chemical Vapor Deposition" method; appears to have the potential to overcome the shortfalls of the expensive, heavy, glass photovoltaic solar cells that are on the market today.
Applications would include everything from: portable solar power-plants, swim suits, jackets, bags, tents, umbrellas, wallpaper, window-blinds and roof-tiles.
The Possibilities are Endless... But!
- Is the "Modified Nano-Virus" aspect in the "Solar Ink" Safe?
Before we tout this as a safe, viable solution to produce cheap, Solar Electricity. We should ask MIT the Difficult Questions, and proceed with extreme Caution.
Its true that the results the researchers have shown thus far, are Amazing! But, as optimistic as it may seem, my doubts are regarding the "Solar Ink" itself!
The potential of widespread negative implications regarding the use of, and manipulation of, viruses and nanotechnology could severely out-weigh the positive aspects and shouldn't be overlooked.
- At this point, I'm not convinced of the safety of MIT's, Solar Ink! Are you?
Photo by Patrick Gillooly via MIT News
(This article was made possible by a Generous Coffee Fund Donation from an Anonymous Donor!)
(This article was made possible by a Generous Coffee Fund Donation from an Anonymous Donor!)
