New solar sprayed on, absorbs infrared energy, works in dark:

[yurbud]

Spray-On Solar-Power Cells Are True Breakthrough

Stefan Lovgren
for National Geographic News
January 14, 2005

Scientists have invented a plastic solar cell that can turn the sun's power into electrical energy, even on a cloudy day.

The plastic material uses nanotechnology and contains the first solar cells able to harness the sun's invisible, infrared rays. The breakthrough has led theorists to predict that plastic solar cells could one day become five times more efficient than current solar cell technology.

Like paint, the composite can be sprayed onto other materials and used as portable electricity. A sweater coated in the material could power a cell phone or other wireless devices. A hydrogen-powered car painted with the film could potentially convert enough energy into electricity to continually recharge the car's battery.
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 , even when it appears to us to be dark outside."

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/01/0114_050114_solarplastic.html">FULL TEXT

[acmavm]

1. Well if this works they need to speed up production because we're killing

off this planet as fast as we can with the technology we have now.

[KansDem]

2. I hope the patent for this technology isn't bought by some entity hoping to shelve it.

From the article...

"Flexible, roller-processed solar cells have the potential to turn the sun's power into a clean, green, convenient source of energy," said John Wolfe, a nanotechnology venture capital investor at Lux Capital in New York City.

...like one of the oil companies.

[thecrow]

3. They've been at this for some time now, since 2002

Spray-On Solar-Power Cells Are True BreakthroughJan 14, 2005 ... Scientists have invented a plastic solar cell that can turn the sun's power into electrical energy, even on a cloudy day. ...
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/01/0114_050114_solarplastic.html - 26k - Cached - Similar pages

Cheap, plastic solar cellsMar 28, 2002 ... Berkeley - University of California, Berkeley, chemists have found a way to make cheap plastic solar cells flexible enough to paint onto any ...
www.berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2002/03/28_solar.html - 23k - Cached - Similar pages

Edited to add aan "http"

[dkf]

4. I don't understand why if this stuff if from 2002 and 2005

we haven't seen it commercially available yet.

How long does this take?

Geez already.

[msongs]

5. house will need a new roof soon - waiting for solar shingles or this spray on stuff to be real nt

[OKIsItJustMe]

6. "Solar Shingles" are already "real"

http://www.alphasolar.com/alpha_solar_062.htm
http://www.abcsolar.com/pdf/unisolarshingle.pdf
http://www.uni-solar.com/interior.asp?id=104
http://www.google.com/search?q=unisolar+shingles