Can you imagine generating energy from your inkjet printer? Some new findings from some researchers at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, directed by Somenath Mitra, are thinking this could be a definite possibility in the near future. They presented a paper which documents their findings of a way to create a solar cell that can be painted on flexible plastic sheets.
The overall techy details are a bit over my head, but you can read more here. Essentially it has to do with "a combination of carbon nanotubes complex and carbon Buckyball molecule" which together allow electrons to transfer and generate electricity. Hopefully this research continues, as the number of applications could be incredible. Mitra says "Someday homeowners will even be able to print sheets of these solar cells with inexpensive home-based ink jet printers. Comsumers can then slap the finished product on a wall, roof or billboard to create their own powerstations!." (via Inhabitat)
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What they need to do is lower the prices in existent units, really educate the public of its benefits and start selling at walmart or somewhere where people actually buy stuff. Basically make it "unavoidable". They can talk mumbo jumbo science talk all they want about a recycled solar panel made from cat hairballs and saltshakers for all I care, but normal people see it as an overpriced, underdeveloped gadget.
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