Can Solar Power Go Truly Transparent?

Can Solar Power Go Truly Transparent?

A team of researchers from Michigan State University is shedding new light on the quest to produce windows that turn the sun’s rays into electricity. Unlike other approaches—including spray-on solar cells and really thin films—the MSU engineers’ scheme doesn’t capture visible light, so it’s completely clear to the naked eye. Someday, people in homes and office buildings will be able to enjoy spaces bathed in natural light through windows that double as cheap, clean power sources. And the potential applications go beyond windows. Imagine a smartphone whose entire screen moonlights (or should we say “sunlights”) as a solar panel without affecting image quality. http://spectrum.ieee.org/energywise/green-tech/solar/can-solar-power-go-truly-transparent/?utm_source=energywise&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=082714