Glitter-Sized Photovoltaic Cells Introduced By Sandia Heat Up Microsolar Potential

Sandia has introduced glitter-sized photovoltaic cells that may open the field of microsolar arrays to new applications. The tiny solar particles, fabricated of crystalline silicon, are easy to manufacture with current tooling and the small size of the cells makes them easy to place on curved and flexible surfaces, like clothing.

A number of technical considerations should prove that the microsolar cells are more efficient and less expensive than currently used technology. All of this is good news for an energy-hungry planet in need of green solutions.

Said Sandia field engineer Vipin Gupta, “Photovoltaic modules made from these microsized cells for the rooftops of homes and warehouses could have intelligent controls, inverters and even storage built in at the chip level. Such an integrated module could greatly simplify the cumbersome design, bid, permit and grid integration process that our solar technical assistance teams see in the field all the time.”