Solar Paint uses photovoltaic properties to create solar panels out of anything you paint. The principle is similar to that of photosynthesis in plants. Although the solar paint is still fairly new it shows great promise. Solar panels of all types are already cheaper than conventional panels and it is more environmentally friendly.
Conventional Solar Panels use wafers of silicon. Silicon is a light sensitive material. The Silicon reacts with the light in a way that it moves electrons causing electrical current. While Silicon is an abundant element. it requires a lot of refinement to get to pure silicon. this uses harsh chemicals and produces a lot of toxic waste.creating silicon is not environmentally friendly. Todays solar panels are about 18% efficient.
Quantum dots research started in University of Toronto lab in 2014. Colloidal quantum dots are semiconductor crystals. They are currently used in L.E.D's, computers, and have even been on other solar panels. The colloidal quantum dots are light sensitive. The University of Toronto made the technology much more cost effective for solar use by spraying the dots on. the layers are sprayed on one atom at a time using a spray gun from a steel mill. The colloidal quantum dots are about 8% efficient. most scientist agree that it must reach 10% before it can be cost effective.
Organic Photovoltaic uses a plastic like substance that can then be suspended in paint.the plastic like substance is based on chains of Hydrocarbon molecules. with it mixed into the paint it can then be sprayed on to create a solar panel. at the University of Buffalo starting in 2013 research began on organic photovoltaic paints. the paint is very cheap to produce however it is still well below the 10% efficiency rating.
at the University of Austin Texas research into a solar paint that uses a mixture of copper, iridium, gallium, and selenide is being conducted. the mixture of metals is put into a solvent that dissolve the metals into an ink like substance. the substance is then sprayed on to create your solar panel. this paint has the lowest efficiency at 3% in 2011.
According to Business Insiders website researchers at Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) have a solar paint that woks differently from most others on the list. Is takes the water in the air and separates it into hydrogen and oxygen and uses the hydrogen to produce energy. The paint uses synthetic molybdenum-sulphide and titanium oxide. These pull the moisture out of the air. tAfter the moisture is pulled from the air it can separate the hydrogen and hold it to go into a hydrogen cell . the cell can then be used to create power or go into a hydrogen power car. When hydrogen is burned it burns the hydrogen and oxygen to produce water as the by-product. The product is not expected to be available for at least another 5 years. This product is now what we usually think of when we think of solar paint. It doesn’t generate electricity, but it does produce a valuable fuel that can be used to produce energy.
Sources
Caughill, Patrick. “A new 'solar paint' lets you transform your entire house into a source of clean energy.” Business Insider, Business Insider, 25 June 2017, www.businessinsider.com/solar-paint-transforms-your-house-into-a-source-of-clean-energy-2017-6. Accessed 30 Sept. 2017.
http://grist.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/shutterstock_113950426.jpg?w=330&h=219
Conventional Solar Panels use wafers of silicon. Silicon is a light sensitive material. The Silicon reacts with the light in a way that it moves electrons causing electrical current. While Silicon is an abundant element. it requires a lot of refinement to get to pure silicon. this uses harsh chemicals and produces a lot of toxic waste.creating silicon is not environmentally friendly. Todays solar panels are about 18% efficient.Conventional Solar Panels
http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/content/dam/sigma-aldrich/materials-science/nanomaterials/photolumin-scence-of-alloyed-quantum-dots.jpg
Colloidal Quantum Dots
Quantum dots research started in University of Toronto lab in 2014. Colloidal quantum dots are semiconductor crystals. They are currently used in L.E.D's, computers, and have even been on other solar panels. The colloidal quantum dots are light sensitive. The University of Toronto made the technology much more cost effective for solar use by spraying the dots on. the layers are sprayed on one atom at a time using a spray gun from a steel mill. The colloidal quantum dots are about 8% efficient. most scientist agree that it must reach 10% before it can be cost effective.
https://www.intechopen.com/source/html/32590/media/image16.jpeg
Organic Photovoltaic
Organic Photovoltaic uses a plastic like substance that can then be suspended in paint.the plastic like substance is based on chains of Hydrocarbon molecules. with it mixed into the paint it can then be sprayed on to create a solar panel. at the University of Buffalo starting in 2013 research began on organic photovoltaic paints. the paint is very cheap to produce however it is still well below the 10% efficiency rating.
http://solarcellcentral.com/images/cigs_cell.jpgCIGS – copper, iridium, gallium, selenide
at the University of Austin Texas research into a solar paint that uses a mixture of copper, iridium, gallium, and selenide is being conducted. the mixture of metals is put into a solvent that dissolve the metals into an ink like substance. the substance is then sprayed on to create your solar panel. this paint has the lowest efficiency at 3% in 2011.
http://tttmetalpowder.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Molybdenum-Disulfide-Powder.jpg
Molybdenum-Sulphide and Titanium Oxide
According to Business Insiders website researchers at Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) have a solar paint that woks differently from most others on the list. Is takes the water in the air and separates it into hydrogen and oxygen and uses the hydrogen to produce energy. The paint uses synthetic molybdenum-sulphide and titanium oxide. These pull the moisture out of the air. tAfter the moisture is pulled from the air it can separate the hydrogen and hold it to go into a hydrogen cell . the cell can then be used to create power or go into a hydrogen power car. When hydrogen is burned it burns the hydrogen and oxygen to produce water as the by-product. The product is not expected to be available for at least another 5 years. This product is now what we usually think of when we think of solar paint. It doesn’t generate electricity, but it does produce a valuable fuel that can be used to produce energy.
Sources
Caughill, Patrick. “A new 'solar paint' lets you transform your entire house into a source of clean energy.” Business Insider, Business Insider, 25 June 2017, www.businessinsider.com/solar-paint-transforms-your-house-into-a-source-of-clean-energy-2017-6. Accessed 30 Sept. 2017.
Austin, R. (2016, November 11). Solar Paint: A Spray-On Alternative to PV. Retrieved September 16, 2017, from https://understandsolar.com/solar-paint/