Something we only used to read in sci-fi and future-predicting blog articles, Oxford Photovoltaics has developed solar cells that can be printed directly onto glass to make your windows generate power for you. The group, affiliated with the Oxford University, has won over $150,000 prize money from the UK Technology Strategy Board’s “Disruptive Solutions Competition” to make this latest invention commercially available.
Basically this organic dye-sensitive solar cell emulates photosynthesis by utilizing a dye that kicks loose an electron which starts a current. The technology is used to attach these cells directly onto windows. To speed up the prototyping process, Oxford Photovoltaics plans to collaborate with other manufacturers and wishes to make these solar cells as durable as possible so that they could last for at least 20 years.
via EcoFriend
(techfever)
