Smokin’ Hot Solar Cells

Joe Camel to go to the "green" side?

Step aside Joe Camel!  There’s a better use for tobacco plants these days.

In fact, researchers at University of California Berkeley have developed a new solar technology that can be used to create biodegradable spray-on solar cells from the ubiquitous crop.

Smokin’ hot solar cells are actually based on a virus that attacks tobacco crops.  Starting with the mosaic virus, the scientists have created microscopic chromophores which can convert light into high-powered electrons.  The process is summarized as follows:

A tobacco plant is sprayed with the mosaic virus, which results in the formation of chromophores.  The chromophores then form tightly coiled formations – nanowires that are ideally formed for the creation of electrons.  When the infected tobacco crops are harvested, scientists extract the chromophores, which are then deposited into a liquid that can be sprayed onto a substrate to create solar cells.

The synthetic solar cells are just a start.  For now, they are not as efficient as traditional silicon solar cells.  Their virtue lies primarily in the fact that the solar cells from tobacco are inexpensive and biodegradable.  That they can be sprayed onto a substrate to create thin, flexible solar cells is an added bonus.  More applications for a lower price is certainly good news on the solar front.

Perhaps most impressive is the fact that tobacco crops can finally be used for something to actually help health and the environment.  Joe Camel may just have to create a new green logo one of these days!

Tags: chromophores, nanowires, silicon solar cells, solar cells tobacco, solar technology, spray on solar cells, synthetic solar cells, UC Berkeley