Using colored dyes instead of silicon for solar cells

Again, as we pointed out in a previous posting, solar power is likely the most environmentally source of power available, but there are problems associated with it. Currently, solar cells are not cheap enough, nor are they powerful enough to replace much of our existing power generation methods. The fact that they are environmentally friendly alone is not enough to overcome the problems associated with the almighty dollar. Additionally, the current process of creating solar panels uses silicon, which, although there is plenty of it, is expensive to process.

Researchers in New Zealand, however, hope to achieve less expensive cells while making their manufacture more eco-friendly in the process. This technology uses synthetic colored dyes, using compounds related to those used in nature for photosynthesis. This technology is not ready to bring to market, but they do have a working proof-of-concept. They believe that they could be commercially viable in as little as two years. I have posed this idea before, but how about the tinted windows of your car charging the vehicles' battery?

Thanks for the tip, Ray!

[Source: Stuff.co.nz]