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Paint Your Roof With Working Solar Cells Made from Grass Clippings

Popular Science -- Installing a solar roof on your home could one day be as simple as mixing your yard clippings into a stew of inexpensive chemicals and painting the resulting mixture right onto your rooftop. An MIT researcher has developed a method of manufacturing solar panels on the spot from agricultural waste, sidestepping the need for silicon and making ready-to-mix solar cheap and abundant virtually anywhere.

But first things first. What MIT’s Andreas Mershin has done here is pretty interesting. His chemical cocktail extracts the photosynthesizing molecules from plant matter--including chlorophyll--and stabilizes them such that they can be spread on a glass substrate. Said substrate is coated in nanowires and titanium dioxide “sponges” that help convert photons to electrons and then ferry those ele

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Submitted Feb 04, 2012 By: NHLiveFree

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DanMtz Champion Author Oakland Posts:1,502 Points:876,625 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Feb 5, 2012 12:59:45 PM Ignore DanMtz Report Abuse Practical applications are way down the road.
OmeGas Rookie Author Twin Cities Posts:48 Points:588,160 Joined:Jul 2010	Message Posted: Feb 5, 2012 11:06:36 AM Ignore OmeGas Report Abuse interesting
matman01 Champion Author Detroit Posts:12,753 Points:1,603,580 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: Feb 5, 2012 9:58:51 AM Ignore matman01 Report Abuse I was disappointed to learn that Dow had abandoned their solar panel roofing shingles. I wouldn't touch a panel like this article states as grass degrades rapidly in a short period of time.
drpepperTX Champion Author Texas Posts:4,856 Points:388,415 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 11:45:12 PM Ignore drpepperTX Report Abuse Sounds like someone wants us to go back to sod roofing. ;=)
NHLiveFree Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:8,015 Points:1,269,250 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 10:13:04 PM Ignore NHLiveFree Report Abuse Exactly rocky.... and the National Arbor Day Foundation is a great proponent. Sign up with them and plant 10 trees this spring.
NHLiveFree Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:8,015 Points:1,269,250 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 10:10:43 PM Ignore NHLiveFree Report Abuse It is an ENERGY related news article that follows the posting guidelines here murph77.. If you have no interest in energy articles, then just don't read them or post a comment. No biggie.
NHLiveFree Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:8,015 Points:1,269,250 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 10:07:56 PM Ignore NHLiveFree Report Abuse remainder of this brief article - "and then ferry those electrons away as current. But you were waiting for the other shoe to drop, and now it shall: the conversion efficiency of Mershin’s paintable solar panel is just one-tenth of one percent. To even begin to make an impact, a solar panel needs an efficiency many, many times greater than that. But it’s a starting place, and to sweeten the deal the technology is cheap. Mershin hopes now that he’s put the technology in play, he or others will be able to build on it. More over at ExtremeTech." This is only a start in one more alternative for true renewable energy at a reasonable cost. That is simply what research and development is all about. At least this researcher is off his duff and working on improvements rather than just voicing the negative and complaining here. If you are unable to contribute to advancements for us, please don't complain about those that are, like Mr. Mershin. Please have some respect for his intelligent and ambitious efforts.
99dakota Champion Author Providence Posts:6,225 Points:1,806,200 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 9:19:19 PM Ignore 99dakota Report Abuse sounds too good to be true...
99dakota Champion Author Providence Posts:6,225 Points:1,806,200 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 9:19:18 PM Ignore 99dakota Report Abuse sounds too good to be true...
murph777 Veteran Author Miami Posts:323 Points:64,955 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 9:16:19 PM Ignore murph777 Report Abuse Not sure what this has to do with cars, oil, MPG. Maybe we can put clippings on our car roof?
BobBG Veteran Author Albany Posts:444 Points:577,165 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 8:28:38 PM Ignore BobBG Report Abuse Interesting but does it really work?
rocky23hy Champion Author Massachusetts Posts:2,547 Points:1,714,175 Joined:Sep 2003	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 7:13:18 PM Ignore rocky23hy Report Abuse Tree's have been storing solar energy for a billion years. Why don't we have a national planting policy.
gasokie Champion Author Oklahoma Posts:2,687 Points:1,045,515 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 6:17:00 PM Ignore gasokie Report Abuse another real dumb idea.
schatzila Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:3,217 Points:674,115 Joined:Jun 2010	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 6:15:30 PM Ignore schatzila Report Abuse LOVE it!
esq262 Champion Author Asheville Posts:1,165 Points:292,615 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 6:14:53 PM Ignore esq262 Report Abuse No sure how practical this will be.
Alfied Champion Author Riverside Posts:6,104 Points:1,395,985 Joined:Jun 2001	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 5:49:24 PM Ignore Alfied Report Abuse Won't work for me.
EZExit Champion Author Phoenix Posts:7,328 Points:1,341,365 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 5:48:33 PM Ignore EZExit Report Abuse Don't hold your breath for this one, 1.5% efficiency doesn't mean squat. While the headline of this graduate thesis data dump sounds cool, the methane from the same grass clippings decomposing offers more potential energy. If the industry struggles to get investors for solar panels with 17.64% efficiency, so much so that the federal government bankrolls the industry, the 1.5% efficiency and $3 will get you a cup of coffee at Starbucks.
nurdco Champion Author Colorado Springs Posts:7,201 Points:1,327,385 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 4:12:16 PM Ignore nurdco Report Abuse How Green is this grass solar array???
BudsterMO Champion Author Kansas City Posts:1,890 Points:343,755 Joined:Aug 2009	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 2:50:54 PM Ignore BudsterMO Report Abuse Yet another "coming soon" project out of the R&D Dept. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.
apiergallini Veteran Author North Carolina Posts:347 Points:161,210 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 2:50:05 PM Ignore apiergallini Report Abuse Sounds like a great idea. It'll be a while before it's efficient enough for people to use, but this is a nice start.
TXRanger09 Champion Author Dallas Posts:1,398 Points:625,125 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 1:51:28 PM Ignore TXRanger09 Report Abuse Like Mr. Mershin said, "this gives someone a place to build from."
19sheldon43 Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:2,823 Points:616,920 Joined:Jul 2009	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 1:04:14 PM Ignore 19sheldon43 Report Abuse Ok put your money were your mouth is. Don't spend a lot of time and money on research grants and don't over think it
Bud122CA Champion Author California Posts:5,711 Points:1,246,300 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 12:53:02 PM Ignore Bud122CA Report Abuse Some day??
zaq001 Champion Author Atlanta Posts:2,126 Points:1,107,955 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 12:38:08 PM Ignore zaq001 Report Abuse Wow. different
honkerman Champion Author San Jose Posts:34,864 Points:2,030,370 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 12:32:39 PM Ignore honkerman Report Abuse Gotta get my lawn growing more! (;-)))
red5529 Champion Author Alabama Posts:2,467 Points:1,096,760 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 12:32:01 PM Ignore red5529 Report Abuse Great idea.
snappytom2 Champion Author Corpus Christi Posts:2,131 Points:198,555 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 12:29:45 PM Ignore snappytom2 Report Abuse Progress takes time. The Wright brothers first airplane could not fly across the Atlantic ocean. It was not until 1927, that Lindberg did the deal. That was 24 years after after the Wright brothers first became airborne. Patience, people, patience.
bigmace111 All-Star Author Albany Posts:928 Points:259,275 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 12:26:40 PM Ignore bigmace111 Report Abuse Who knew that yard waste could electrocute you?
giselmey Rookie Author El Paso Posts:92 Points:221,845 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 12:25:05 PM Ignore giselmey Report Abuse Promising.
majorben Champion Author New York Posts:6,080 Points:1,221,330 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 12:24:41 PM Ignore majorben Report Abuse interesting if it is efficient
m105 Rookie Author Charlotte Posts:9 Points:508,705 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 12:24:18 PM Ignore m105 Report Abuse Don't step on it or it'll electricute you.
RedskinGas All-Star Author Tennessee Posts:945 Points:912,740 Joined:Jun 2006	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 12:23:26 PM Ignore RedskinGas Report Abuse Lets see how it does in mass production.
2gjh Champion Author North Dakota Posts:2,578 Points:2,276,205 Joined:Nov 2003	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 12:23:18 PM Ignore 2gjh Report Abuse I didn't see it at Radio Shack or Lowes.
remay Champion Author Houston Posts:5,197 Points:1,755,220 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 12:22:40 PM Ignore remay Report Abuse "But you were waiting for the other shoe to drop, and now it shall: the conversion efficiency of Mershin’s paintable solar panel is just one-tenth of one percent. To even begin to make an impact, a solar panel needs an efficiency many, many times greater than that. But it’s a starting place,..." Couldn't have stated it better...
qwerty17 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:2,026 Points:768,330 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 12:21:44 PM Ignore qwerty17 Report Abuse "mr. fusion" is coming to a delorean near you. 88 gigawatts is all it takes.
djm5x9 Champion Author Atlanta Posts:1,833 Points:490,855 Joined:Nov 2010	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 12:21:36 PM Ignore djm5x9 Report Abuse OK.
ds531 Champion Author Texas Posts:1,038 Points:228,725 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 12:17:31 PM Ignore ds531 Report Abuse humm
silverbullet90 All-Star Author Florida Posts:834 Points:315,305 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 12:16:48 PM Ignore silverbullet90 Report Abuse Cool
WebGabe Veteran Author Pennsylvania Posts:497 Points:129,880 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 12:16:24 PM Ignore WebGabe Report Abuse Maybe someday.
jmdk721 All-Star Author Missouri Posts:666 Points:279,445 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 12:16:03 PM Ignore jmdk721 Report Abuse Cool, so can I paint my yard, and I don't have to now and I make power
thuathienhue Champion Author Michigan Posts:1,665 Points:290,975 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 12:15:48 PM Ignore thuathienhue Report Abuse Kinda neat.
WalkingWV Champion Author West Virginia Posts:2,374 Points:509,670 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 12:15:25 PM Ignore WalkingWV Report Abuse Sounds great, if it works.
themaninthehat Champion Author New Orleans Posts:1,507 Points:400,575 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 12:14:10 PM Ignore themaninthehat Report Abuse Progress
payogie Champion Author Atlanta Posts:1,047 Points:301,510 Joined:Feb 2005	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 12:13:35 PM Ignore payogie Report Abuse Maybe on your house!
Tru2psu2 Champion Author Winston-Salem Posts:11,794 Points:1,218,625 Joined:Feb 2004	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 12:12:49 PM Ignore Tru2psu2 Report Abuse interesting!
Rans35PG Champion Author Modesto Posts:1,149 Points:664,625 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 12:12:25 PM Ignore Rans35PG Report Abuse a START in a new direction
dan30thz28 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:4,171 Points:1,633,770 Joined:Feb 2006	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 12:12:18 PM Ignore dan30thz28 Report Abuse Awesome when this is a commercially available product.
Retowered Champion Author Colorado Posts:6,713 Points:2,318,390 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 12:11:19 PM Ignore Retowered Report Abuse That would be good. But at what cost?
Donnade Rookie Author Anchorage Posts:30 Points:622,775 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 12:11:14 PM Ignore Donnade Report Abuse I'm glad there are people who want to find better solutions that don't require more and more fuel--keep on experimenting to find viable options.
Sam195 Champion Author San Bernardino Posts:6,250 Points:1,212,925 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 12:09:44 PM Ignore Sam195 Report Abuse That's just great.