MIT scientists develop lightest flexible solar cells

Q.  MIT scientists develop thinnest solar cells which can be placed on any material/surface almost including?
- Published on 29 Feb 16

a. Clothes
b. Smartphones
c. Soap bubbles
d. All of the above

ANSWER: All of the above
 
MIT scientists have discovered the tiniest, most lightweight flexible solar cells to be produced on any material or surface including clothes, smartphones or soap bubble. Lab proof of concept shows new approach to creating solar cells that could power the next generation of portable electronic devices and the aim behind the new approach is to make substrate of the solar cell and protective overcoating from shielding in the environment along with the cell all in one go. A common flexible polymer called parylene has been used as a substrate and overcoating and organic material called DBP as primary light absorbing layer, Parylene is a plastic coating sued to protect implanted biomedical devices and printed circuit boards from environmental damage. To demonstrate the thinness and lightweightedness of the cells, researchers draped the working cell atop a soap bubble without popping the bubble. The solar cells including substrate and overcoating are 1/50th of the thickness of human hair and 1-1000th of the thickness of equivalent cells on class substrate yet convert sunlight into electricity as efficiently as glass rivals.

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