MIT Develops Ultra-Thin Solar Cell That Can Be Applied to Any Surface

Engineers from MIT have developed a scalable fabrication technique that can produce ultra-thin solar cells that can be stuck to any surface and provide power. The durable and flexible cells are much thinner than a human hair and are manufactured using conductive inks in a printing process that will eventually be scaled to cater to large areas.

The cells are affixed to a fabric substrate and are one hundredth the weight of typical solar panels; however, they can generate 18 times more power per kilogram and can be glued to most surfaces. According to MIT, the cells could be applied to boat sails to provide power at sea, on tents for emergency power, or on drones for increased range and flight time.

“The metrics used to evaluate a new solar cell technology are typically limited to their power conversion efficiency and their cost in dollars-per-watt. Just as important is integrability — the ease with which the new technology can be adapted. The lightweight solar fabrics enable integrability, providing impetus for the current work. We strive to accelerate solar adoption, given the present urgent need to deploy new carbon-free sources of energy,” explains Vladimir Bulovic, the director of MIT.nano.

Unlike previous endeavors that require expensive and intricate manufacturing processes, MIT’s new solar cells are entirely printable using conductive ink; however the resulting solar modules are inherently fragile. To overcome this issue, the team print the cells on a Dyneema fabric created from UHMwPE (Ultra High Molecular-weight Polyethylene) fibers. This provides the strength and flexibility needed for the cells to function without breaking.

To that end, the solar module can generate 730W of power per kilogram when freestanding and roughly 370W/kg when used with the Dyneema fabric. The engineers are currently looking to develop ultra-thin packaging for the cells that will protect them from harsh environments.