Properties:
Similar to the way a plant absorbs sunlight and turns it into chemical energy to fuel the growth of a plant, energy coatings absorb sunlight and indoor light and convert them into electrical energy.
Energy coatings are produced by working on the nano scale by injecting a dye into titanium dioxide, a white pigment commonly used in toothpaste and paint. The dye, applied to a flexible material, absorbs energy from both the sun and indoor light. This light energy travels through the titanium dioxide and a series of electrodes and is converted into electrical energy.
Similar to the way a plant absorbs sunlight and turns it into chemical energy to fuel the growth of a plant, energy coatings absorb sunlight and indoor light and convert them into electrical energy.
Energy coatings are produced by working on the nano scale by injecting a dye into titanium dioxide, a white pigment commonly used in toothpaste and paint. The dye, applied to a flexible material, absorbs energy from both the sun and indoor light. This light energy travels through the titanium dioxide and a series of electrodes and is converted into electrical energy.
Konarka, the major producer of energy coatings, develops and manufactures power plastic that is inexpensive, lightweight, flexible and versatile. The light-activated power plastic film can be embedded within devices, systems and structures. Since the manufacturing process uses the printing technology, the film can be produced in any color and transparency. The film can be applied to structural systems, windows, roofs, glass and effectively produce energy.
Resources
http://www2.arch.uiuc.edu/elvin/nanocoatings.htm
