What is solar paint?

Solar paint, also known as photovoltaic paint, is a solar cell in liquid form. The paint can be applied to any conductive surface like metal or glass. Once dried, the solar paint creates an invisible solar cell on that surface that can capture sunlight and convert it into electricity.

Can solar paint be used on plastic?

First, as mentioned it is cheaper to produce than silicon solar panels. This means that, in the future, solar will be attainable to a broader audience due to the lower cost. Solar paint can also be applied to surfaces of almost any shape or size, and to numerous surface types including plastic, fabrics, and even car bodies.

How does solar paint work?

The paint can be applied to any conductive surface like metal or glass. Once dried, the solar paint creates an invisible solar cell on that surface that can capture sunlight and convert it into electricity. Solar paint is designed to be like standard paint, but with hundreds of millions of solar cells mixed in.

What is photovoltaic paint?

This is the idea behind photovoltaic paint, a radical new application for solar cells that is easy to apply, can be installed almost anywhere, and is cost-effective. Sounds like something in the distant future, right? Not quite.

Is solar paint a viable alternative to silicon-based solar panels?

It took 77 years to go from the 1% efficiency of the first solar panel ever invented to the creation of a 14% efficiency panel in 1960! Right now, solar paint is not as efficient as silicon-based solar panels and this is the single major hurdle researchers must surmount before solar paint is commercially viable.

Can solar paint be used on conductive surfaces?

Solar paint can be used on any conductive surface, which means there are a lot of potential applications for solar paint. Some of the most promising potential uses for solar paint include: Coating the roofs of buildings to create solar power generating rooftops. Painting solar panels onto the sides of buildings or other large structures.