Oxford University scientists have developed an ultra-thin material capable of being stuck to any everyday object to harness the power of the sun.
The material can be applied as a coating, the university announced on Friday, and is far smaller and more efficient than current solar panels.
“At just over one micron thick, it is almost 150 times thinner than a silicon wafer,” the university said.
“Unlike existing photovoltaics, generally applied to silicon panels, this can be applied to almost any surface.”
At 27%, against 22%, the material is also more energy efficient, meaning it can convert more of the sun’s energy.
Rucksacks, cars, mobile phones and rooftops were given as examples by the university of objects which could be coated in the material.
“If more solar energy can be generated in this way, we can foresee less need in the longer term to use silicon panels or build more and more solar farms,” Junke Wang, a fellow at the university’s physics department, commented.