United States. A group of researchers from the University of Notra Dame have made a breakthrough in creating an inexpensive "solar paint" that uses semiconductor nanoparticles to produce energy.
"We want to do something transformative, go beyond solar-based silicone technology. By incorporating nanoparticles to produce energy, called quantum dots, into a compound we made a single-layer solar paint that can be applied to any conductive surface without special equipment," said Prashant Kamat, a researcher at the Center for Nano Science and Technology (Ndnano), who led the research.
The search team for the new material focused on the size of titanium dioxide nanoparticles that were covered in cadmium sulfide or cadmium selenide. The particles were suspended in a water-alcohol mixture to create a paste.
When the paste was grazed on a transparent conductive material exposed to light, electricity was created.
"If we can improve efficiency, we will be able to make a real difference in meeting energy needs in the future. That's why we've dubbed the new painting the Sun-Believable," added Kamat, who also plans to study ways to improve national stability.
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