Researchers have developed an ultra-thin coating that could turn sunlight into electricity. Now, this coating is really thin and flexible, and thus it could also go on things like backpacks, phones, or maybe even car roofs to make clean energy. The coating is so thin—like a hundred times thinner than a human hair! It’s thin, so something special, like a printer, would be required to print it onto things, kind of like how we print words onto paper.
Why is this important?
The technology would benefit us in making energy that doesn’t involve big farms using acres upon acres of land. It could put solar power into so many more places.
These are special materials called perovskites. These materials are really good at catching sunlight and turning it into electricity. They have the ability to catch more of the different kinds of light that fall upon it, unlike the normal solar panels, so they can potentially create more energy.
Is It Better Than Regular Solar Panels?
Yes, in some ways! This new coating can turn about 27% of sunlight into electricity. Most solar panels we use today only turn about 22% of sunlight into power. Scientists feel that perhaps they would be able to make it work even better in the future.
On what other things could we use it?
This coating is thin and flexible. It can be applied to many other things. Imagine it placed on:
- Your backpack, kind of like having a walking, constant charging of your phone.
- The roof of your car to add more power to it;
- Building sides and roofs to enhance their power supply to the home or office;
- Even in your own phone itself, to help keep it from going dead.
Is this ready now for people to start using?
Not yet. The scientists are still working on the self-cleaning coating to make sure it lasts a long time without breaking down. But they believe it could become a big new way to make clean energy in the future.
Why Do We Need This?
Some of the major causes, among many, of warming our planet include pollution from the burning of oil, gas, and coal. Man finds clean ways to make energy that won’t hurt the Earth. A new solar coating could be part of the solution to this big problem.
