Inkjet printers will make solar cells

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed a new technique for printing thin-film solar cells onto paper using a special inkjet printer. MIT's newly developed semiconductor coated paper uses carbon as a dye and currently provides a cell efficiency of 1.5% to 2%. Although the figures are not high, they are easy to install.

The researchers hope that this technology can be further upgraded in the future, and that metal and even plastics are also shown to achieve printouts. However, paper solar cells have a long way to go before they are put into commercial use. According to MIT researchers, the technology is still in the development stage, and it will take at least a few years to realize commercial use.