Researchers shows off self-contained, 9mm solar power system
By Donald Melanson 
posted March 2nd 2010 11:27PM
posted March 2nd 2010 11:27PM
Advances in solar power aren't always the most immediately exciting sort of developments (a more efficient solar panel still looks like a solar panel), but this new solar power system developed at the University of Michigan certainly won't have any trouble turning a few heads. Not only is it 1,000 times smaller than any comparable commercial counterpart (just 9 cubic millimeters), but its processor, solar cells, and battery are all self-contained, and the researchers say it would be be able to operate "nearly perpetually" if not for the battery eventually giving out after "many years." What's more, they say the system could also be adapted to be powered by movement or heat instead of light, which means that it could eventually power medical implants in addition to a whole range of other devices. No word on when that might happen, but the inventors are already busily working to commercialize the device. Extreme close-up after the break.
Omg... that is really small, I had to do a double-take for a moment there...
@Plazmic Flame - That's what she said as she got dressed and walked out of the room.
@Plazmic Flame
Same - I was like - thats way smaller than 9mm (a penny has a 19mm diameter).
Then I realized that no one at engadget realized that 9 cubic mm is not the same as 9mm, the same way that an inch is not a gallon.
This thing is probably 3 mm long...
@Plazmic Flame thisis so rediculous!power an implant for your body! why the heckdo people need this! these things are just inappropriate!
@emopoops why do you hate everything? i have never seen you say anything positive about anything on this site.
to be technical... 3mm x 3mm x 3mm = 27 cubic mm, that would be ginormous compared to this.
It is amazing.
@twoone
It looks to be 3 mm x 3 mm x 1 mm = 9 mm³.
@M C
...this is the first time I've ever seen a penny, so I was thinking you Americans had some huge-arsed coins if that was 9mm!
@onlymyrailgun
2.5 by 3.5 by 1 millimeters.
Assemble the nano-bots!
GO BLUUUUUUE!
Nice, just superglue a couple on a hat and you can power your portable devices.
@abedinthehouse
Finally, BLING for guys!!!
@SeNiLe911
correction:
bling for nerds.
Any ideas on practical uses for this in market? I'm sure there's plenty
@BrownSound
Yea, itll most likely power my mechanical liver when it goes out from alcoholism when im in my 50's
@BrownSound
skynet has found its power source.
@BrownSound if it can be adapted for heat energy, i'd say throw a whole ton of them into my computer next to the heat sync... or even just in really hot locations like server rooms... they'd pay for themselves in no time. I'm sure the inside of my desktop case still has plenty of room for 9mm panels.
What's it going to power? A treadmill for an ant?
@anogee
read the article genius...it could potentially power implants in your body.
thats a lil ahead your treadmill for ants there
You people needs to read the actually article and not just look at the shiny pictures and funny headlines
@anogee What is this? A solar panel for ants?? it has to be at least... 3 times bigger than this!!
@abedinthehouse what the heck is an implant for your body?
why would it need powering?thats so gross.
@anogee Tiny Christmas lights for the Lincoln memorial... either that or Lincoln is into kinky stuff?
@anogee
Actually, I can see these strung together powering single-purpose chemical/bomb/viral detection devices that are attached to lightposts, which would infinitely power it at night (by light) and sunlight during the day. A detection net all across cities for instantaneous location-awareness, movement and speed, monitored by local and national officials.
@emopoops
Seriously? Have you ever heard of a pacemaker? That's the first implant that comes to mind.
@kojo87 That's exactly what I thought of when I saw the picture.
That penny must be huge!
@New Reformation
it's a quarter in disguise.
So how big of a magnifying glass would I need to suspend above it to charge my electric car?
When I first read the headline I was assuming it was about firearms. This is fine I guess.
This should be combined with the higher 90% efficient technology, and you have yourself the solar cell of the future
heres that link for the other tech
http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/28/caltech-gurus-whip-up-highly-efficient-low-cost-flexible-solar/
@abedinthehouse It's called chasing the dream because you have to be asleep to believe it - George Carlin(mostly him)
Could become powered by movement or heat? It looks like we're looking at the next-gen electric car fuel cell.
@horchata
you mean a car powered by back-seat-activity?
So I know it says the technology, when "adapted to be powered by movement or heat instead of light" could be used to power medical implants, but what sort of use does this current version of it have? What could be powered from such a small solar panel?
@SpeeGold
Exactly, I wonder how many watts this can put out in ideal conditions. As cool as it is, solar power is not a lot even when it is bigger then a fifty cent piece, I can't imagine a use for one a fraction of a penny.
@SpeeGold
I dont think its much about what the tech can offer now as what it can offer once its at its full potential as with any concept idea or first generation product that was made to accomplish more than what it currently can do due to tech constraints.
Pretty big Ducman69 and you just gave me one heck of an idea....
OMG thats a huge penny!!!!
I had no idea how beautiful pennies were!
Let me know when they hook it up to something other than a penny and put it on YouTube.
Uh, how could an implanted device exploit heat to generate electricity? My physics experience is not all too terribly extensive but... there needs to be some kind of temperature gradient involved.
Complimentary LMWTFY: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heat_engine
@electrobrains
the human body is really warm.
WOW, that's crazy!
Now if this thing is 1000x smaller than a regular solar cell, but is it more efficient? Is it comparably cheaper?
Lots of missing information, but still rather amazing.
Dang! Now I have to cancel my order for the Bloom Box.
This just makes the machines more effective killers.
I'd be worried about dying if I didn't go out into the sun and my 'medical device' shut off. :)
@(Unverified) That would be great because you could then feel like Superman.
That's an implant chip if I ever saw one !!
Yes, finally a way to stimulate hair growth. I'll just stick a hundred of these on my head!