Researchers Report AdvanceIn Efficient Thin-Film Solar Technology

Scientists at the University of Illinois say they have developed a new form of thin-film, silicon solar cells that convert sunlight to electricity more efficiently than other thin-film technologies. Reporting in the journal Nature Materials, the researchers say that the new film, which can be rolled onto windows or roofs, was created by slicing off minute chips from larger silicon wafers and then stamping them onto a thin, flexible surface. The tiny solar cells are then connected to electrical circuits. The researchers say the new technology combines the efficiency of thicker photovoltaic cells with the flexibility and strength of the best thin-film solar technology.