This solar "paint" would have the exact same function as the large photovoltaic solar collectors on buildings and solar farms. The solar paint has been described as a "solar sandwich."
The chief designer, Brian Korgel explains "So these devices are 'sandwiches,' where you have the metal contact on the bottom and metal contact on the top to extract the charge out; and the middle part is the part that absorbs out the light."
This paint, made of the CIGS nanocrystals, can be sprayed on plastic, glass, fabric, or anything to create a solar cell.
One way to create these cells on a very large scale would be to print them on thin sheets, the same way you print newspapers and create something that looks much like shingles on today's market. The shingles would do double duty, generating electricity while serving as your homes shingles. They would also stand up better in bad weather, such as hail and windstorms, than more fragile solar collectors.
A lot of challenges need to be conquered before solar paint becomes common such as determining what raw materials can be used if this technology can be mass produced. One possibility is silicon, which is made from sand, which is in great abundant across our planet. But extracting the silicon from the sand is an incredibly energy-intensive process and the chemicals it takes to do that are pretty harsh on the environment.
Another challenge high on that list is improving the efficiency of these nanomaterial cells. Right now the efficiency total is at about 3% and to et on the market it needs to be at least 10% so there is still a ways to go before this baby hits stores near you.
Solar Sheeting
Many people have the impression that cheap solar energy is years away as a real possibility, but the reality is that inexpensive solar sheeting technology has been around for several years now. Soon, solar sheeting will be a common and abundant household resource, available to households with any budget.
Solar sheeting is built on nanosolar technology. Solar sheeting panels are not yet available in stores, but at least one company, Nanosolar, began production of solar sheeting in 2009.
The problem with getting solar sheeting to market has been with money. Most commercial applications are dependent on bank financing.
Nanosolar technology is slightly less efficient than traditional solar panels, but it is much more efficient than coal for generating electricity. Because solar sheeting is so inexpensive and easy to use, the inventors imagine much broader applications than just electricity for homes.
Imagine a world in which power for electricity and heat is almost free. In the U.S. alone, that would put about $4,000 per year back into the average homeowner’s pocket, and significantly reduce the environmental damage done by producing and burning coal and oil. Thanks to the cheap solar energy provided by solar sheeting that dream will soon be a reality.