Drawing the future of solar: Solar Paint
Annuj discusses the implications of solar paint and how it rivals Solar Panels for being the future energy extractor.
Engineers around the world have drawn up plans that involve using a substance called solar paint as a substitute for solar panels. A very new but exciting invention that still needs a few touch ups to be used in the modern day.
![Solar paint' technology could be cheaper alternative to panels: 'Billions of light-sensitive particles [are] mixed in'](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!u5GQ!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb517522e-b546-474e-a7d8-8e9d60d1ca7a_1920x1280.jpeg "Solar paint' technology could be cheaper alternative to panels: 'Billions of light-sensitive particles [are] mixed in'")
So how do they work?
Solar paint is literally what it says it is, paint. There are two types of solar paint, quantum dot paint uses nanotechnology to produce electricity hydrogen-producing paint. Quantum dot paint is one that contains photovoltaic material (material which releases electrons when exposed to electromagnetic radiation) the same thing that is found in traditional solar panels. The material is called semiconductors and often are organic structures such as fullerene or the polymer polythiophene and they are organised in nanostructures that increase yield of absorption therefore the amount of electricity generated.
Within the semiconductors, as the heat is taken in the electrons become more energised and start to vibrate more frequently and rapidly. The electrons are then pulled towards one area where the other side of this area is positively charged. This is an important step as this then creates a flow of electrical charge which creates current. This current then proceeds to follow an external current and then powers it up.
The other type of solar paint which instead of producing electricity current produces hydrogen as it takes in water vapour from the atmosphere and breaks it down. This occurs when the semiconductors in the paint oxidise the water producing oxygen gas and hydrogen ions. The semiconductors also proceed to reduce the hydrogen ions, producing hydrogen gas. A catalyst within this paint also decreases the time taken for all these steps to occur.
This technology is still in early development and simply doesn’t produce enough hydrogen gas to compete with other forms of hydrogen production, this is due to the efficiency of the water splitting being low and the limitations of the catalyst used within the paint. For these reasons, the quantum dot paint is more commonly used.
The Competition
Now solar paints seem very promising however there are some drawbacks to this invention.
Firstly the organic matter used is almost damaging to the environment causing air pollution and possibly harm to human health.
This paint is also considered flammable, so it could exacerbate local fires and if the paint touches the skin it can irritate causing discomfort.
However, the paint is very versatile allowing it to be applied anywhere where there is a surface and for architects could be their wet dream as solar paint could look more presentable than a big solar panel. The installation cost of paint is a fraction of the panels, takes up less space and can be customised for aesthetics. Panel
Panels however have an upper hand in efficiency, however, researchers are quickly closing the gap making the paint more effective. Materials for panels are generally easier to find, being the only key advantage of panels.
Solar paint can take over the solar panels industry, with the possibility of creating hydrogen fuel it’s a no-brainer that the paint could sketch our future by harvesting energy from the sun.
This article was written by Annuj. Feel to with me connect with on LinkedIn