While scientists and engineers are still racing to make solar panels more efficient, some developers are trying to make the technology more attractive. Researchers from Finland's VTT Technology Center have developed flexible solar panels that are not only flexible in application, but also have decorative functions and are recyclable. They can be used on windows, walls, machines and other surfaces and can be shaped into any structure or furniture during use. , or even become works of art powering small devices and sensors.
Using roll-to-roll technology, 100 meters of layered thin-film organic solar panels can be produced in one minute. The actual functional layers of the solar panel are printed between plastic foils. The resulting product is only 0.2 millimeters thick and already contains electrodes and light-harvesting polymers.
This flexible solar panel, with 200 light-harvesting polymers per square meter, can only produce 3.2 amps and 10.4 watts of power. Enough to drive power requirements for very small devices and sensors. The flexible solar panels can also be used indoors, drawing energy from indoor lights and sunlight.