Solar Nanotechnology - June 2006

A new take on a familiar renewable energy source may render batteries and chargers useless.

Imagine not having to worry about charging your cell phone, laptop, PDA, Blackberry, MP3 player, portable DVD, etc., perhaps ever. Solar nanotechnology just may be the innovation that would make it possible. Solar power certainly isn't a new concept, but what is new and exciting is the potential of using solar power for many of our technology needs.

No longer the realm of tree huggers, technology companies are investing heavily in this power of the future. Solar technology, though still in limited use, has been powering and heating homes and even commercial buildings for decades, but its application in portable tech devices is nearly non-existent, other than in the humble solar calculator. The real question one might ask is: "What took so long?" Even the Department of Defense is showing interest, funding a project at the Rochester Institute of Technology to determine if solar nanotechnology can supply improved satellite imagery.

What Is Solar Nanotechnology?

Consider a marriage between solar power and technology -- you end up with solar nanotechnology, also known as photovoltaics. The concept involves creating flexible, thin rolls of solar panels, which will power everything from a building's electrical and heating systems to your cell phone, laptop or virtually any power-driven device. The flexible films are embedded with tiny solar cells to create a self-contained, self-charging battery. These films are then enclosed or attached to a device such as a laptop, cell phone, etc. providing power to the gadget.

Potential Uses & Impacts on the Real Estate Industry

The potential is endless. Solar nanotechnology could provide power to homes, businesses, the military, hospitals, etc. Solar panels already are used to help power buildings now, but shrinking down the technology would allow solar cells to be more integrated with the rest of the building, embedded in tiles and siding.

Of particular interest to consumers is its application in our portable gadgets. No more "oops" moments of suddenly losing power on your cell phone or laptop, since a little sunlight would give your gadgets the juice they need. Working away from the office would be much less of a hassle, as REALTORS® will not need to be concerned with charging devices for their tech tools or carrying the required plugs, replacement batteries and chargers.

Drawbacks

The precarious state of today's non-renewable energy resources makes solar nanotechnology an exceedingly compelling concept. As appealing as this notion is however, routine use of solar nanotechnology is likely several years away. Until it can be produced and sold at prices similar to conventional power sources, use and availability of solar nanotechnology will be limited.

Costs

Currently solar nanotechnology is more expensive than other energy sources – part of the reason it is still in the research stage.

- Denise Foligno

NAR's Web Wizard Report - No. 81 (June 2006)

For Further Reading

As solar gets smaller, its future gets brighter; Nanotechnology could turn rooftops into a sea of power-generating stations, (San Francisco Chronicle, July 11, 2005)

Spray-on solar-power cells are true breakthrough, (National Geographic News, Jan. 14, 2005)

Cheap solar: Konarca's superthin film uses nanotechnology to generate electricity from the sun, (Fortune Small Business, Feb. 1, 2005)

Questions or Comments?

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