When solar cells converge with the Japanese paper art form of kirigami, the result is something beautiful. The combination of the two creates light-weight state-of-the-art solar cells that can track the sun, capturing up to 40 percent more energy than conventional solar cells. While solar panels that move along with the sun already exist, these have relied on motorized trackers that are too heavy to be placed on residential rooftops where by far most solar panel installations are. To make them smaller and lighter, researchers borrowed from the ideas of kirigami to condense the solar panel into many small solar cells within a larger one. The small cells can then tilt and spread apart based on where the sun’s rays are coming from, allowing them to absorb more sunlight. Who said scientists can’t be artistic?
Lightweight solar cells draw inspiration from Japanese art and move with the sun
More of Today's Solutions
All city buildings in Chicago are now powered by renewable energy
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Chicago entered 2024 with a landmark achievement: every one of its 411 municipal buildings, from City Hall to ...
Read MoreHow unique leopard calls could impact conservation
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Leopards, renowned for their stealth and solitary nature, have always been challenging to study. However, groundbreaking research revealed that ...
Read MoreThese solar-powered barges can scoop up 50 tons of plastic from rivers each day
While removing the plastic waste that currently contaminates the ocean today will be crucial for protecting marine ecosystems, it is arguably more important that ...
Read MoreWashington’s first human compost company is open for business
Washington passed a law in 2019 allowing citizens to compost themselves after death for a more sustainable burial process. Fast forward a year later ...
Read More
