Solar cells that are 400X more efficient and light enough to rest on a soap bubble. (1 Viewer)

Feb 27, 2011
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And that has to be the longest title for a thread I have ever made :p

Ultra thin and so light it can rest on a soap bubble. 400x more efficient than glass/silicon cells.

Looks great. Wondering how much they will cost and when will they be available. If cheap enough I would cover my van in them :D

http://news.mit.edu/2016/ultrathin-flexible-solar-cells-0226
 

eddie

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I have just had ten days at the NEC and it seems that my competitors already sell these panels

Mind you, the soap bubble will be in one place longer than the people that arrive at a ready made stand, put up their £50 banner and promise the world lol

Next weekend the same "traders" will be selling miracle sponges, mops and fatless fryers ;)
 

JFD

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What a great idea! I have always wanted to put my hat, shirt and smartphone on top of my motorhome to charge up my batteries!

Or are they suggesting we put the motorhome in a vacuum chamber for them to 'deposit' solar panels on the roof? There's a thought, but not a good one!!

The wonder of modern science continue to amaze me.
 
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Gromett
Feb 27, 2011
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What a great idea! I have always wanted to put my hat, shirt and smartphone on top of my motorhome to charge up my batteries!

Or are they suggesting we put the motorhome in a vacuum chamber for them to 'deposit' solar panels on the roof? There's a thought, but not a good one!!

The wonder of modern science continue to amaze me.
No they will make it on a substrate.. This is from M.I.T. one of the best technical universities in the world...
 

eddie

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No they will make it on a substrate.. This is from M.I.T. one of the best technical universities in the world...
LOL I wasn't doubting the post, but the claims that some "pop up" traders make already is farcical already

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DBK

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The 400x figure is just output/weight. A typical solar cell is around 20% efficient in terms of converting the available energy from the sunlight so the best improvement they could ever achieve on output is around 5x.
 

Tincataylor

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Many people have doubted the wisdom of the amount of money that has been spent on the Space Station and exploration outside our planet in general. However this announcement from MIT is a good example of the need for future electronic manufacturing to be done in a vacuum. Vapour deposition manufacturing processes (using a terrestrial vacuum chamber)incorporating substrates such as Graphene are going to revolutionise the products in daily use in the next 20 years, and for it to be commercially viable on the scale required then a zero gravity manufacturing environment is the way to go. This, among others, is the real reason the space station is up there.

The Tincas
 
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Gromett
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The 400x figure is just output/weight. A typical solar cell is around 20% efficient in terms of converting the available energy from the sunlight so the best improvement they could ever achieve on output is around 5x.

They say the conversion efficiency is about the same. But due to the weight and thinness. You could apply a coating of these across your whole van.... It is thin, flexible and light. Perfect for motorhomes :)
 

laird of Dunstan

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well they better hurry up with the paint on solar panels ,the company who manufactures the electronics and associated electrical stuff tells me that since the subsides have been cut,business has nose dived
 

Geo

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Thought id ask this via PM rather than open forum
@eddievanbitz
Secret Trade question,
Which Sikaflex do you recommend for fixing the bubble to the roof and will the same stuff do the panel to the bubble(y)
Regard
G
Oops!!!

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Judge Mental

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I know I keep banging on about it but I am sure all required power on Earth will eventually come from the Sun. Maybe we should all be worshiping it as the Inca's used to.
What's wrong with the geezer in a dress with big beard?:)
 
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I seem to remember that £20 million was given by the government to Cambridge Laboratories for the development of better solar panels... Seems someone has beaten them to it !!!
Sooner the better for me !
PS. We already do worship the sun..:):):).

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magicsurfbus

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They wouldn't work on my MH, as it rarely has soap bubbles on the roof.

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Fairy Liquid is best for Bubbles!
Hi.
I keep mentioning "Bubbles Spa " (Opp. Derby Railway station) They don't use Fairy Liquid,but if some Funster was to pay me to go in and have a..... Massage?o_O. I could then report back with what they do use,just a thought,as i don't have anything .....on?:ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:
Tea Bag
 

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