A team of researchers from the University of Alberta developed a cost-effective solar cell — made with spray-paint like synthetics.
Jillian Buriak, a chemistry professor at the university, along with post-doctoral fellows Erik Luber and Hosnay Mobarok, used zinc phosphide nanoparticles — a promising, non-conventional material in the solar cell industry. They found these particles dissolved to form an ink. When sprayed and dried, the thin film was responsive to light.
As ScienceDaily explains:
Buriak and her team have designed nanoparticles that absorb light and conduct electricity from two very common elements: phosphorus and zinc. Both materials are more plentiful than scarce materials such as cadmium and are free from manufacturing restrictions imposed on lead-based nanoparticles. Read More
