Bendable Electronics Give Solar a Twist

At the heart of most solar panels is a small piece of electronics: the silicon semiconductor. That little slice of material is not just the catalyst behind your solar panels but also your stereo, television, and cell phone. Any further questions about how photovoltaics and everyday electronic devices are related can be assuaged by noticing the rapid and simultaneous advancement of the cell phone and the solar panel. It all comes down to circuitry.

Researchers from Northwestern University and the University of Illinois had already developed electronic circuits that could bend and stretch. Now they’ve taken that a step further to a circuit that can be twisted. Besides the obvious medical implications of technology that could twist, stretch, and bend with the human body, this could be huge for the solar industry.

Using what they call “pop-up” technology, Yonggang Huang and John Rogers are redefining how electronics can function. And guess where they are headed next. That’s right, solar panels. They believe they are close to developing an extremely thin and transparent solar panel. What is truly amazing is how fast these scientists are working. In just the last three years they have conquered stretching, bending, and twisting. Now that they’ve turned their focus to solar panels…is it just a matter of time?

Via: Science Daily

Posted on December 8th in Solar News by Dan.