Spray on Solar Panels

[rangi]

Read a piece in the Facist Times that says some bright spark has invented "spray on solar panels"

"Researchers in Canada have discovered a way of applying solar cells to flexible surfaces using minuscule light-sensitive materials.
Known as colloidal quantum dots, the substance could be printed on to a flexible film and used to coat all kinds of surfaces from laptops to aircraft wings, Covering a car roof for instance would produce enough power for 3 100 watt light bulbs or 24 compact fluorescents
The breakthrough system called "sprayLD" could send the prices of solar panels crashing!"


So whatcha think? Wait awhile before I get 'em fitted?

 

[movan]

Sorry confused here again. If they coated something with the material, they would still need to attach it to batteries etc., so if something went wrong you would have the whole of the motorhome roof covered with something which wasn't working ,unless it is easily removed. Maybe that's a daft statement but it's my first thought, and

 

[Gromett]

I remembered reading something about the "colloidal quantum dots" from last year. Found out they were being used to make lasers and LED's.

However back in May this came up.
http://www.nature.com/nmat/journal/v13/n8/full/nmat3984.html

I reckon we are still 10 years away from seeing spray on solar panels. I do recall that I was thinking about this just after I went fulltiming in 2009 probably 2010 ish. And 5 years on they are still not here

Would be great though. If you are in to this type of stuff can I recommend the http://arstechnica.com/ website. regularly has great articles on this type of thing.

And @movan, when the painted on solar panels get damaged, just spray a new coating on

 

[Gromett]

I was sure I had seen this before so I went on the hunt..... July 2012..

http://www.scoop.it/t/amazing-scien...films-leads-to-most-efficient-solar-cell-ever

The source article is unfortunately only available as part of a PDF now though.

These material scientists are getting as bad as the policitians for re-announcing discoveries as new years after they first announced them.. I am still waiting for my 100x battery at 1/100 the weight with 5 second charge time....

 

[tonyidle]

I think I'd rather have a sensibly-priced LPG-fuelled fuel cell.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Wildman]

imagine spraying an entire van, miniscule additional weight and massive amount of leccy.

 

[jollyrodger]

You wouldn't need the duct tape then . Would you ?