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| Flexible solar panels Less than four months after signing a two year contract to demonstrate flexible solar panels based on Dye Solar Cell technology to provide portable and sustainable energy, the project team has met the first contract milestone. Flexible solar panels hold promise for applications including powering cooling, communications, and sensors, either as light weight mobile powerpacks, or integrated into field structures. DSC technology can best be described as 'artificial photosynthesis' using an electrolyte, a layer of titania, a pigment used in white paints and tooth paste, and ruthenium dye sandwiched between glass. Light striking the dye excites electrons which are absorbed by the titania to become an electric current many times stronger than that found in natural photosynthesis in plants. Compared to conventional silicon based photovoltaic technology, Dyesol's technology has lower cost and embodied energy in manufacture, it produces electricity more efficiently even in low light conditions and can be directly incorporated into buildings by replacing conventional glass panels rather than taking up roof or extra land area. write your comments about the article :: © 2006 Construction News :: home page |