This solar paint which uses both sunlight as well as the moisture produced by the water evaporation to eventually generate electricity. This paint has been developed by Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Australia.
As we know, water molecule is made up of Oxygen and Hydrogen, which is abundantly available and considered as purest source of chemical energy. The composition of compounds present in paint makes the paint to act as a semi-conductor to catalyze the splitting of water atoms into hydrogen and oxygen using energy from sunlight and water from the air. The paint is made from titanium oxide and the newly developed synthetic molybdenum-sulfide. It may be noted titanium oxide is used in normal wall paints.
Quantom Dot Solar Cell
The researchers from University of Toronto, has developed this solar paint to increase the efficiency of solar cell by 11%. The technology is also known as photovoltaic pain and as colloidal quantum dot photovoltaics. It works with nano
Quantum Dot Solar Cell
The researchers from University of Toronto, has developed this solar paint to increase the performance of solar cells by up to 11%. The technology is also known as photovoltaic paint and as colloidal quantum dot photovoltaics.
In the core of this invention, a photon-absorbing film having nanoscale semiconductors embedded in it, simply increases the light absorption which also includes near-infrared spectrum, thus facilitates increased power conversion.
This technology will one day allow them to spray solar cells onto flexible surfaces, or print solar-sensitive colloidal quantum dots onto a flexible film to coat weirdly shaped surfaces, from building walls to an train compartment. According to he researchers, a surface of the size of a car roof covered with CQD-coated film can power 24 compact fluorescent lights.
Perovskite A Solar Paint that absorbs light well
Perovskite’s crystal structures were discovered first time in the Ural Mountains in 1939. It was so named after Russian mineralogist Lev Perovski, These crystal structures, later found to be a semiconducting material that can be used as a light-absorbing material to convert solar energy into electrical energy. The Japanese scientists were the first to make use of perovskites for solar energy applications in 2009.
The researchers from the University of Sheffield, in 2014, were able to create perovskite-based solar cells that use a liquid form of the substance, which is applied through a spray-painting method that reduces material waste and costs. This is why these photovoltaic cells are also called spray-on solar cells.
Mayer application of Perovskite based layer of paint can increase the efficiency of solar panels as it absorb light very well. Perovskite as a paint can be applied on any exposed surface to imagine for harnessing the sun’s energy.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Solar Paint
Being still under development and it is yet to be commercialized. Till now very few companies around the world, such as Tel Aviv-based SolarPaint Ltd has undertaken its commercialization.
Still, it holds a achievable commercial viability in the near future. It’s cost effective and convenient in use in comparison to solar panels—any one only has to paint a structure with it just like any other paint. Professional service may be required to install the equipment to harvest the resulting power, though.
Be it rooftops, walls, doors, or windows, all can be painted with custom solar paint. next in line of application can be all moving transport vehicles. In order to reduce the carbon footprint, scientists are targeting suitability of such solar paint on diverse surfaces.
Right now for any incidental solar energy, Solar paint is just 3 to 8% energy efficient which is much below the performance of solar panels. This is one of the biggest disadvantages of this technology. Researchers are eyeing new ways of increasing solar paint’s efficiency — which will ultimately make this technology viable.
Till then solar paint can be an add on to existing solar panels for enhancing the efficiency.