Photo by Robert S. Donovan
Norwegian Company EnSol AS has developed a remarkable new spray-on solar film that allows windows to generate solar power without clouding the view. The material consists of metal nanoparticles embedded in a transparent composite matrix that can be easily sprayed on. And the cells don’t just work on glass — they can be used on the rest of the house, too!
Electron microscope image of EnSol nanocrystals
Inhabitat has brought you a number of technologies that make it possible to create ultra-thin solar cells, making them far more versatile. But there’s something particularly satisfying about EnSol AS’ new transparent spray-on solar film.
Lead researcher Christopher Binns of the University of Leicester said, “The coating would be built into the windows or other materials as part of the manufacturing process. It could even be used on the roofs of cars to charge up batteries — although powering the vehicles themselves would probably be pushing it.”
Perhaps EnSol’s slogan should be Solar: It’s not just for rooftops anymore. The cells achieve efficiencies of 20 percent (which is average) and the company claims they will be commercially available at a reasonable price by 2016.
+ EnSol AS
Via Daily Mail
Interresting invention. Thank you for sharing it!
Always lovely to see nanotech getting its progress on. I can’t wait to coat my house in this stuff. Maybe coat my coat with it to charge my iPod.
I’m going to publish an article on this later today – http://www.cold-frontier.com
I have a feeling that selling this thing pre-sprayed on just certain windows will leave us back on square one — good technology, limited distribution.
No doubt the glass companies are going to demand exclusive rights.
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