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Off-the-shelf dyes improve solar cells

The Kids Science Zone -- Like most technologies, work on solar devices has proceeded in generational waves. First came bulk silicon-based solar cells built with techniques that borrowed heavily from those used to make computer chips. Next came work on thin films of materials specifically tailored to harvest the sun's energy, but still more or less borrowed from the realm of microelectronics manufacturing. Then came the third generation, described by one researcher and blogger as "the wild west," which among other objectives aims to build inexpensive next-generation solar cells by relying on decidedly low-tech wet chemistry.

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Submitted Sep 01, 2010 By: PhilMils

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remay Champion Author Houston Posts:4,701 Points:1,655,795 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Sep 2, 2010 8:57:52 AM Ignore remay Report Abuse The technology keeps improving...
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:15,266 Points:1,142,300 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Sep 2, 2010 6:27:03 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse as we get more experience in solar and other alternatives, we will find more ways to bring price down and wattage per square inch (sq. cm) up.
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:15,266 Points:1,142,300 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Sep 2, 2010 6:23:25 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse quick68: and they're actually much better at picking up the lessons we teach them than we were... it's sad, but as long as we don't know history, we will be repeating it...
Quick68 Champion Author Columbus Posts:4,839 Points:758,900 Joined:Dec 2009	Message Posted: Sep 2, 2010 2:01:08 AM Ignore Quick68 Report Abuse We are teaching our kids to do the same as we are. Get all you can get. Greed and more Greed.
14of45SSR Champion Author Saskatchewan Posts:2,370 Points:829,040 Joined:Dec 2008	Message Posted: Sep 2, 2010 12:45:08 AM Ignore 14of45SSR Report Abuse If the costs drop, sales will go up!
ThatHunt Champion Author Dallas Posts:4,487 Points:1,628,265 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: Sep 2, 2010 12:44:22 AM Ignore ThatHunt Report Abuse the kids shall inherit our mess.
Blue_Cruzer Champion Author Lexington Posts:5,152 Points:1,202,725 Joined:Mar 2007	Message Posted: Sep 2, 2010 12:42:34 AM Ignore Blue_Cruzer Report Abuse I will be interested to see where we are in ten years, with all these technologies.
clement007 Champion Author Cleveland Posts:4,806 Points:1,385,475 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Sep 2, 2010 12:40:10 AM Ignore clement007 Report Abuse make it cheap
TBONE3 Champion Author Pennsylvania Posts:6,388 Points:1,510,745 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Sep 2, 2010 12:36:32 AM Ignore TBONE3 Report Abuse Any improvement in quality, reliability and cost of fuel cells will make people take notice.
Jethroy Champion Author Toronto Posts:4,069 Points:743,740 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: Sep 2, 2010 12:34:53 AM Ignore Jethroy Report Abuse thats good
idigau22 Champion Author Washington Posts:20,212 Points:2,804,100 Joined:Apr 2003	Message Posted: Sep 2, 2010 12:34:18 AM Ignore idigau22 Report Abuse USGS experts and many other experts say we have 300 years of oil right under our feet here in the good old USA! Lets drill and use it while "Green Research" is being argued!
camel1 Champion Author Minnesota Posts:6,050 Points:1,816,515 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: Sep 2, 2010 12:28:10 AM Ignore camel1 Report Abuse Technology evolves
Buddy2264 Champion Author Tampa Posts:9,258 Points:1,893,540 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Sep 2, 2010 12:26:03 AM Ignore Buddy2264 Report Abuse We may want to use oil but at what cost as it gets harder to get and the demand goes up. There may be an initial cost to change but then what is the cost. As in solar, they last 25 years or more, not sure on wind. Conservation keeps your money in your pocket.
1cheapgasin Champion Author Indianapolis Posts:3,145 Points:744,590 Joined:Jul 2009	Message Posted: Sep 2, 2010 12:23:00 AM Ignore 1cheapgasin Report Abuse Going green will cost 3 times what oil costs- do the math, we are destined to use oil for our lifetime~!!!!!
1cheapgasin Champion Author Indianapolis Posts:3,145 Points:744,590 Joined:Jul 2009	Message Posted: Sep 2, 2010 12:20:52 AM Ignore 1cheapgasin Report Abuse They won't make solar a bargain until they run out of oil- that's 200 years away!!!!!!!
Canucktree Champion Author Alberta Posts:2,699 Points:579,635 Joined:Dec 2008	Message Posted: Sep 2, 2010 12:19:49 AM Ignore Canucktree Report Abuse Finally the US goes Green (in thought)?
tedjm1 Champion Author New York Posts:3,540 Points:389,685 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: Sep 2, 2010 12:14:37 AM Ignore tedjm1 Report Abuse All of a sudden, the entire industry, for all we have in the U.S., is out looking for new things for energy. And trying to get it at lower cost. Where were they several years back?
CobraLeader Champion Author New Jersey Posts:267,902 Points:1,200,750 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Sep 2, 2010 12:14:31 AM Ignore CobraLeader Report Abuse ... What does this have to do with the price of gas or oil??? ...
Bus561 Champion Author Lexington Posts:14,076 Points:2,753,105 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Sep 2, 2010 12:11:24 AM Ignore Bus561 Report Abuse In my firm opinion I think the oil industry has basically halted all exploration of any solar energy in the past.
jimgraham Champion Author Akron Posts:7,961 Points:1,513,840 Joined:Oct 2007	Message Posted: Sep 2, 2010 12:10:46 AM Ignore jimgraham Report Abuse The science of solar cells is moving forward at a increasing pace. This is a good thing..
LocalSpyGuy Champion Author Tampa Posts:5,479 Points:1,120,320 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Sep 2, 2010 12:08:59 AM Ignore LocalSpyGuy Report Abuse Solar is the most efficient and cleanist energy source. If we could only find a way to harness it.
jrsva Champion Author Virginia Posts:7,144 Points:1,146,100 Joined:Jan 2006	Message Posted: Sep 1, 2010 11:56:30 PM Ignore jrsva Report Abuse Sorry AK, articles on advances in alternative energy sources are never off topic. This sort of research will impact all of us down the road.
AKmailman Champion Author Alaska Posts:3,298 Points:1,099,495 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: Sep 1, 2010 11:48:08 PM Ignore AKmailman Report Abuse sounds like another OFF TOPIC solar post - it's automobiles and fuels
kbierley Champion Author Dayton Posts:9,931 Points:1,270,610 Joined:Nov 2003	Message Posted: Sep 1, 2010 11:47:21 PM Ignore kbierley Report Abuse And the cost to do this large scale is?????
waynemustang Champion Author Indiana Posts:4,666 Points:1,237,280 Joined:Nov 2006	Message Posted: Sep 1, 2010 11:41:31 PM Ignore waynemustang Report Abuse Solar cells have a LONG way to go before they are practical.
us4usa Champion Author Missouri Posts:3,821 Points:681,220 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Sep 1, 2010 11:23:13 PM Ignore us4usa Report Abuse All for solar big oil cant buy the sun.
lightbulbman2008 Champion Author Worcester Posts:187,204 Points:1,120,175 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Sep 1, 2010 11:09:23 PM Ignore lightbulbman2008 Report Abuse give the plan some time to work.!!!!
lolite All-Star Author San Diego Posts:813 Points:415,890 Joined:Dec 2008	Message Posted: Sep 1, 2010 11:08:58 PM Ignore lolite Report Abuse Any movement forward in Solar is Good for all of us.
Lukus Champion Author Halifax Posts:6,026 Points:1,216,610 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: Sep 1, 2010 11:06:16 PM Ignore Lukus Report Abuse Solar is the energy of the future.
Bleeder Champion Author Virginia Posts:6,138 Points:1,269,705 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Sep 1, 2010 11:03:55 PM Ignore Bleeder Report Abuse This sounds very interesting.
saleboss Champion Author Phoenix Posts:2,857 Points:964,560 Joined:Feb 2006	Message Posted: Sep 1, 2010 10:58:23 PM Ignore saleboss Report Abuse Keep looking, we'll find the best combination eventually!
signwiz Champion Author Indiana Posts:1,395 Points:1,349,930 Joined:Feb 2006	Message Posted: Sep 1, 2010 10:54:59 PM Ignore signwiz Report Abuse Sounds interesting.
JoseM All-Star Author San Bernardino Posts:890 Points:605,010 Joined:Apr 2009	Message Posted: Sep 1, 2010 10:53:34 PM Ignore JoseM Report Abuse Looks promising, simpler is better
abcdMA Champion Author Worcester Posts:5,619 Points:1,114,250 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Sep 1, 2010 10:27:43 PM Ignore abcdMA Report Abuse next thing you know the paint on a car will be the solar panel too
woodeye55 Champion Author Gary Posts:4,654 Points:1,391,730 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Sep 1, 2010 10:26:52 PM Ignore woodeye55 Report Abuse I'll go with the low-tech wet chemistry.
1Casey Champion Author Albany Posts:4,521 Points:1,419,785 Joined:Jun 2004	Message Posted: Sep 1, 2010 10:25:10 PM Ignore 1Casey Report Abuse What took so long ?
hauler43 Champion Author Oakland Posts:7,142 Points:2,355,100 Joined:Sep 2003	Message Posted: Sep 1, 2010 10:18:49 PM Ignore hauler43 Report Abuse Keep it simple.
DEG Champion Author Las Vegas Posts:15,397 Points:3,054,380 Joined:Jul 2003	Message Posted: Sep 1, 2010 9:53:48 PM Ignore DEG Report Abuse Sometimes low-tech provides amazing results.
PissedCanuck Champion Author Toronto Posts:5,138 Points:1,192,310 Joined:Nov 2006	Message Posted: Sep 1, 2010 9:40:03 PM Ignore PissedCanuck Report Abuse Shows that simple works.
jcurley Champion Author California Posts:5,638 Points:1,321,570 Joined:Dec 2007	Message Posted: Sep 1, 2010 3:15:56 PM Ignore jcurley Report Abuse I love a good result from trial and error! I'm still curious. If this is in fact, true, what about the science behind this that makes a difference?
Mooseman1 Champion Author Manitoba Posts:7,301 Points:1,380,245 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Sep 1, 2010 2:15:01 PM Ignore Mooseman1 Report Abuse Truly amazing how the most obvious is overlooked.
SVmike Champion Author California Posts:1,426 Points:307,850 Joined:Dec 2009	Message Posted: Sep 1, 2010 1:53:31 PM Ignore SVmike Report Abuse Don't be looking for a major breakthrough. It is going to be small increment after small increment. The real improvement is going to be in reducing cost and improving longevity in order to make the (current) long payback time more cost effective. (i.e. can we make the payback period shorter and.or extend the lifetime once the payback time is reached.)
focusvt Champion Author Detroit Posts:5,057 Points:1,135,920 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Sep 1, 2010 1:28:15 PM Ignore focusvt Report Abuse a major break through is getting closer.
tarheelcoastie Champion Author Greensboro Posts:3,008 Points:662,745 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Sep 1, 2010 1:07:09 PM Ignore tarheelcoastie Report Abuse As God's Own Drunk once said, "So simple, it plum evaded me!"
teafortwo Champion Author Washington Posts:15,343 Points:923,255 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: Sep 1, 2010 12:20:12 PM Ignore teafortwo Report Abuse Works for me ;0) Here comes the sun.
Night Owl Champion Author Toronto Posts:5,265 Points:1,333,725 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: Sep 1, 2010 12:11:31 PM Ignore Night Owl Report Abuse The Kids Science Zone? Well, good to hear that solar-cell technology keeps improving.