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Imagine you are somewhere in the bush, enjoying wild life. Far from the civilised world, but still with enough power for all your gadgets and utensils, as your canvas tent is printed with solar cells. Last month, Konarka successfully conducted the first-ever demonstration of creating solar cells by inkjet printing.
The inkjet printed objects take light in and deliver power out. This direct current (DC) electrical energy can be used immediately, stored for later use, or converted to other forms of energy.
Konarka’s unique photo-reactive materials can be printed or coated inexpensively onto flexible substrates using roll-to-roll manufacturing, similar to how newspapers are printed on large rolls of paper. Just as newsprint can include text, images, and a variety of colours, Konarka’s photovoltaic materials can include a range of colours and patterns. What starts as a roll of plastic comes off the press as a roll of Power Plastic.
Konarka’s photovoltaic fibres and durable plastics bring power-generating capabilities to structures including tents, awnings, roofs, windows and window coverings.
Consumer electronics such as cell phones and portable music players, networked electronics, laptops and PDAs can be charged, without the need to plug them into a standard wall outlet.
As Konarka’s technology utilizes a wider range of the light spectrum than conventional solar cells, all visible light sources - not just sunlight, but also indoor light - can be used to generate power.
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Rick Hess, president and CEO of thin film photovoltaic technology developer Konarka Technologies Inc., called the demonstration a "milestone" for the company and an "essential breakthrough in the field of printed solar cells," in a statement.
Inkjet printing is a commonly used technique for controlled deposition of materials in specific locations on a substrate, primarily used to make flexible electronic circuits. By using the process in the development of solar cells, the need for "clean rooms" is eliminated, and manufacturers can work with a number of different substrates, including plastics, and different colours, according to company officials.
(bizjournals)
References: creatingexcellence.blogspot, bizjournals
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