Researchers at the New Jersey Institute of Technology have developed a do-it-yourself version of the solar panel. Their research focuses on inexpensive solar cells that can be printed on some computer printers or painted onto plastic sheets to create instant solar panels.

At present, renewable energy for the home tends to be quite expensive and needs to be installed for many years before it the savings outweigh the installation costs. Developing a cheap solution to the renewable energy market would be a goldmine. Purified silicon is used in most solar panels and this is too expensive for most consumers. Instead, researchers have concentrated on polymer-based materials which is a much cheaper option.

The solar-cell coating being developed is almost like a paint. It is made up of carbon nanotubes that are about 50,000 times smaller than a human hair and that function like electric wires. These nanotubes also conduct electricity better than copper. These nanotubes are then encased in a protective material to ensure that the electricity generated is trapped.

When sunlight is shone on the materials, a process is activated and the nanotubes start to behave like copper wires, creating electrical current. This can then be collected and used to power electrical devices in the home. The beauty of this invention is that it is cheap and simple to use and could provide a desirable energy alternative source for households around the world.

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