Scientists use inkjet printing to produce solar cells

The team used a similar approach to
printing photos with an inkjet printer

 Solar energy may soon become easier to capture, say researchers who have developed a novel method to produce solar cells using inkjet printing.

Oregon State University researchers have come up with a technology similar to that commonly used to print documents and photos.

They say their method is quicker and less expensive than traditional solar cell manufacturing techniques.

It could also reduce raw material waste by 90%, they add.

As people move away from conventional combustion-type technologies, more attention is paid to renewable energy types, and solar energy is one of them.

It is known as a clean and sustainable form of energy, but this is offset by the manufacture of solar panels which is an expensive and complicated process.

Finding a balance between costs of production and efficiency could become key to future manufacture of solar cells, and many scientists around the world have been concentrating on developing new materials and methods to do that.

The recent inkjet approach is one of those novel methods.

"This is very promising and could be an important new technology to add to the solar energy field," said Professor Chih-hung Chang, the lead author of the study, which appeared in Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells journal.

"Solar energy is the most abundant and clean energy source on Earth.

"Considering the high price of petroleum and other fossil fuels, solar cells will definitely have a bright future."

Source: BBC News (click this link for the full story