MIT and Japan Develop Solar Panels Thinner Than Paper

Solar panel thinner than a paper? Yes, you read it right.

Scientists from MIT, along with researchers from Japan, have made a new kind of solar panel that is thinner than a piece of paper. These new solar panels are so light and flexible that they can be placed on tents, boats, and even drones without any heavy support.

Usually, solar panels are large, heavy, and need strong frames to stay in place. But these new panels are different. They don’t need much support and are very easy to carry and use. Researchers say that they can produce 90% of their original power even after rolling and unrolling the panels 500 times.

The team, led by Vladimir Bulovic, made these panels by printing electrodes onto a sheet of plastic. Then, they stuck the plastic sheet onto a tough fabric called Dyneema using a special machine. After that, they peeled off the fabric, leaving behind a super-thin solar panel.

This new technology could be very helpful in many situations. For example, it could provide power in disaster areas where electricity is not available. It can also be used on boats, in camps, or even on flying drones, thanks to its lightweight.

Experts believe that these solar panels could change the future of solar energy, making it portable and easy to use anywhere. 

• Source: https://telanganatoday.com/paper-thin-solar-panels-set-to-transform-clean-energy-technology