In a major leap for renewable energy, researchers from MIT, in collaboration with Japan, have developed ultrathin, flexible solar panels. Lighter than paper, these panels require no rigid structures and can be deployed on tents, boats, and even drones
Updated On – 29 April 2025, 04:33 PM
Hyderabad: Yet another breakthrough in solar power generation technologies achieved is all set to revolutionise the solar power generation. Japan has already unveiled the ultra-thin solar panels, which are thinner than paper.
Information culled out from different online media sites indicates that these ultrathin and light weight panels can be placed any surface. These panels were developed by a team of researchers from the MIT.
While the traditional solar panels weigh heavy and require support structures, not speak of the fragility factor requiring some protection, these ultrathin panels, require little or no supportive infrastructure.
The research team led by Vladimir Bulović, printed the electrodes on a flat sheet of plastic. After that, they glued the sheet of plastic onto a chosen surface using a slot-die coater, in which case they chose a strong fabric called Dyneema. Using screen printing, an electrode is deposited onto the structure to complete the solar module. Lastly, they stripped the fabric, which had picked up the electrodes, resulting in a clean sheet of plastic left behind.
These ultrathin panels are bound to revolutionise the solar energy making, as they are more accessible and portable. They can be used in different scenarios. Reports speak of the panels being able to retain 90 per cent of their power generation capabilities even after rolling and unrolling the panel more than 500 times.
These panels can be laminated on various surfaces like on a boat or on a tent or in any situation in disasters. Perhaps, these panels could also power up drones as they are extremely light weight.