# Solar Breakthrough: Cheap Quantum Dot Solar Paint

- Link: https://greenlivingguy.com/2011/12/solar-paint-the-diy-solution-for-harvesting-sunlight/
- Published: 2011-12-29T16:27:24-05:00
- Author: greenlivingguy

🌞Sun-Believable: The Solar Paint Revolution 🎨

## Introduction

Imagine painting your phone to charge it. Sounds like sci-fi, right? Well, buckle
up! Scientists have just turned solar power into a DIY project. They’ve created 
a quantum dot [solar paint](https://greenlivingguy.com/2011/10/wal-mart-solar-taking-large-scale-installations-to-the-next-level/)
that could change everything.

### The Breakthrough: One-Coat Wonder

So, how does it work? Here’s the scoop:

 1. Scientists coat tiny titanium dioxide particles with cadmium sulfide or selenide.
 2. Then, they mix these super-particles with a solvent.
 3. Voila! You’ve got solar paint.

Simply brush it on a conductive surface, and boom – you’re harvesting sunlight!

### The Brains Behind the Paint

Who are these solar wizards? Meet the dream team:

Mathew P. Genovese (University of Waterloo, Canada)

Ian V. Lightcap and Prashant V. Kamat (University of Notre Dame, Indiana)

![Solar paint ](https://i0.wp.com/greenlivingguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/
IMG_4830.png?resize=400%2C400&ssl=1 "Solar paint")

They’re about to drop their findings in the American Chemical Society’s Nano journal.
Talk about making a splash!

#### How It Works: Quantum Leap in Solar Tech

Professor Kamat breaks it down:

 1. Quantum dots absorb light.
 2. This excites electrons, which jump to titanium dioxide particles.
 3. These electrons then zip to an electrode, generating current.

The result? A solar cell you can paint on. It’s that simple!

### The Secret Sauce: Nanoparticle Cocktail

After extensive testing, the scientists found their winning recipe. It’s a mix of
cadmium sulfide/titanium dioxide and cadmium selenide/titanium dioxide nanoparticles.
This combo packs the biggest punch.

#### From Lab to Life: Practical Applications

Imagine this:

 1. Painting your phone for an instant charge
 2. Coating your laptop for endless power
 3. Brushing your roof, windows, or car for free energy

The possibilities are endless!

#### The Road Ahead: Challenges and Potential

Currently, the paint’s efficiency is about 1%. That’s five times less than traditional
solar cells. However, the scientists are optimistic. With some tweaks, they believe
they can boost this significantly.

### Why It Matters: Beyond Silicon

Professor Kamat sums it up:

“We’re aiming for transformation. This paint is cheap and scalable. Even a small
efficiency boost could revolutionize energy production. That’s why we call it ‘Sun-
Believable’.”

#### Conclusion: A Bright Future

The Department of Energy is already on board, funding this groundbreaking research.
While there’s still work to do, the future looks bright. Soon, we might all be painting
our way to a greener planet!

Stay tuned, solar enthusiasts. The power of the sun might soon be at the tip of 
your paintbrush! ☀️🖌️

#SolarPaint #[GreenEnergy](https://greenlivingguy.com/2015/01/yingli-green-energy-builds-20-mw-solar-power-plant-in-china/)#
QuantumDots #SustainableFuture

Article original ideas from: [Oilprice.com](https://oilprice.com/)

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 greenlivingguy

 The Green Living Guy, Seth Leitman is an independent power producer, a green living
expert, and Editor of the McGraw-Hill, TAB Green Guru Guides. Seth is also an Author,
Radio Host, Reporter, Writer and an Environmental Consultant on green living. The
Green Living Guy writes about green living, green lighting, the green guru guides
and more. Seth's books range from: # Build Your Own Electric Vehicle by Bob Brant
and Seth Leitman (2nd and 3rd editions) # Build Your Own Plug-in Hybrid Electric
Vehicle by Seth Leitman # Build Your Own Electric Motorcycle by Carl Vogel # Green
Lighting by Seth Leitman, Brian Clark Howard and Bill Brinsky # Solar Power For 
Your Home by David Findley # Renewable Energies For Your Home by Russel Gehrke #
Do-it-Yourself Home Energy Audits by David Findley # Build Your Own Small Wind Power
System by Brian Clark Howard and Kevin Shea # and more green living books to follow.

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