Fuel Problem Solved-Solar Panel Paint

Started by yadda1, 12/03/2008 02:47AM
Posted 12/03/2008 02:47AM Opening Post
The answer to an electric car's fuel issue may be closer than we think.

Gerald: Popular Science, "NanoSolar Powersheet-The New Dawn of Solar"

"Imagine a solar panel without the panel. Just a coating, thin as a layer of paint, that takes light and converts it to electricity..."

http://www.popsci.com/popsci/flat/bown/2007/green/item_59.html

NationalGeographic, "Spray-On Solar-Power Cells Are True Breakthrough"
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/01/0114_050114_solarplastic.html
Posted 12/03/2008 12:11PM #1
That is one of the coolest things I've heard about in a long time! Thanks for the link.
Posted 12/03/2008 03:43PM #2
Actually, I think one of the most important statements is this from the NatGeo article:

"...existing materials are only able to harness the sun's visible light. While half of the sun's power lies in the visible spectrum, the other half lies in the infrared spectrum.
The new material is the first plastic composite that is able to harness the infrared portion.
"Everything that's warm gives off some heat. Even people and animals give off heat," Sargent said. "So there actually is some power remaining in the infrared [spectrum], even when it appears to us to be dark outside."

If you're driving with low batteries at night in the winter, it ain't gonna work as well as daytime, but the range of frequency response is a huge potential advance.

Gerald