Solar energy has been a boon to the environment. An endless form of energy that is powered via our shiny friend, the sun? Sign us up. The only problem with the tech is, however, that you need to stock up on this bulky solar cells. Who has the room for giant energy-collecting panels in their life? Certainly not those of us who live in big cities. We demand not only smaller solar cells, but cells that are flexible and can be affixed to our clothing and person. We want the whole process streamlined, more convenient and, of course, wearable.
A group of tenacious scientist at Stanford University have been quietly slaving away in their secret laboratory on something that solves these dilemmas and then some. Engineers at Stanford have successfully fabricated thin, flexible solar cells that are able to be peeled and attached to almost any surface. The technology is written about in exhaustive detail in the most recent issue of Scientific Reports. In a nutshell, however, the team of scientists was able to create this breakthrough by manipulating silicon dioxide, squeezing it together until it was a flexible ‘sandwich’ of sorts.
The team says the tech is not only light weight and potentially wearable, but also fairly cheap to produce. It’s still in the concept stages for now, but results have been extremely promising. Who knows? Maybe by this time next year you’ll be a walking, talking solar energy panel. Oh sun, you glorious bastard you. We’d give you a great big hug if it didn’t mean you’d incinerate us to nothingness a billion times over.
