Ultra Slim & Flexible Solar Cells With 18 Times More Power

MIT engineers have created ultra-lightweight and flexible fabric solar cells that can be easily installed on any surface.

[{"selector":"#anim-203463d2-4da8-4feb-93d9-467988ab4c7f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":250,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-980f0136-082e-46dc-a010-b603195016c4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":250,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Solar cells are made of semiconducting inks that can be printed using scalable manufacturing processes.

These durable, lightweight fabric solar cells are easily portable and can be quickly deployed in emergencies, and are much lighter than traditional panels.

[{"selector":"#anim-9570a758-7873-4ec5-9724-69d36240173e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":250,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a71ae1b4-3a42-4e98-89b0-2ea67ea76b79","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":250,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] They can be worn or installed on fixed surfaces, making them a versatile and reliable source of energy.

Super slim solar cells are one-hundredth the weight of conventional panels but still generate 18 times more power-per-kilogram.

[{"selector":"#anim-a3fe8e19-d349-4502-a84f-861ccaf1188b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":250,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ec3a97c7-efa1-420f-9efe-32cda015ef0a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":250,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] These solar cells are made from semiconducting inks that can be printed using scalable manufacturing processes.

MIT's ultra-lightweight and flexible solar cells can be attached to a variety of surfaces, such as sails, tents, tarps, and drone wings, providing a convenient and renewable energy source.

Conventional silicon solar cells are encased in glass and framed with heavy aluminum, making them fragile and difficult to use in a variety of settings.

[{"selector":"#anim-857c07e4-c42a-4071-a0e9-fc945a65ff4c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":250,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-132740c3-0a01-46b4-97dd-0a97cbca5706","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":250,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Six years ago, ONE Lab developed a new type of ultra-thin and lightweight solar cell that can be produced using simpler and more cost-effective printing processes, making it a more practical and scalable solution for generating renewable energy.

Recently developed printable thin-film solar cells by MIT researchers using scalable fabrication techniques and ink-based materials, creating a solar module about 15 microns thick using a slot-die coater and screen printing.

To overcome the fragility of thin, freestanding solar modules, MIT researchers found that fabrics were the ideal substrate for added flexibility, strength, and low weight.

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MIT researchers created a durable, lightweight solar structure by using a composite fabric called Dyneema.

[{"selector":"#anim-af96cffc-3977-410c-80ce-646a1ab4991d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":250,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e478b6b5-5382-4ce7-a47b-179b0778eca1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":250,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] They added a layer of UV-curable glue to adhere the solar modules to the fabric, resulting in a structure that is easy to handle and deploy in various settings.

MIT researchers developed ultra-lightweight, flexible solar cells that can generate 18 times more power-per-kilogram than traditional cells and retain over 90% of their power generation capabilities after 500 roll-unroll cycles.