Solar paint

Solar Paint
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Solar Paint
Solar energy is the cleanest power source that is recyclable despite being the most abundant energy source in the world. It is with this notion in mind that research on new methods of harnessing solar energy is done. This has led to the manufacture of solar paint by research institutions with the leading innovator being The University of Notre Dame. The University of Notre Dame in 2011 made a great breakthrough in their research and development when the researchers managed to come up with solar paint. This paint was made by researchers with the aim of replacing of solar panels in the harnessing of solar energy. Developers at the University of Notre Dame have dubbed the paint “Sunbelievable” owing to their belief that they could be able to improve the efficiency of the paint and use it to harness electric power commercially.
Despite having the same appearance as other paints in the building industry used in varnishing of houses, the paint has unique abilities. The outlook of houses and any other exteriors spread over by the solar paint, and other kinds of paint are the same (Levitan, 2012). This study aims at giving the description, reliability, and future technology related to the solar paint aimed at the achievement of cheap method of harnessing the power.
Description
Solar paint works by the use of quantum dots in the production of electricity, which are power-producing nano-particles. The solar paint makes use of Titanium dioxide coated with a choice of cadmium selenide or cadmium sulfide. Use of water-alcohol combination for suspension of the quantum dots and creates a spreadable compound. The next procedure in the preparation is the spreading of the mixture on any flat surface and used in the generation of electricity. Electricity collection by this method does not require the use on any special equipment as required in the harnessing of electricity by any other method. Despite the technological innovation, the efficiency of the solar paint is low at 1%, which is 9-14% lower than the efficiency of solar panels used in the harnessing of solar energy. The solar paint requires the sandwiching of two electrodes to generate electricity from the solar paint. There is a need for the improvement of efficiency needed for the generation of a quantitative amount to enable the use of the solar paint for the mass generation of electricity. Prashant Kamat, the lead researcher and professor at the University of Notre Dame believes that an improvement in the electricity harnessing ability of the solar paint will be a big break and aid in prospectively achieving energy outputs to meet supplement on total production (Science Daily, 2012).
Due of low efficiency levels of the solar paint, it is not commercially available for use, but the researchers believe that they can be able to augment the efficiency. With increased efficiency, solar paint can be abl...