Michael Grätzel, inventor of the dye-sensitized solar cell, wins 2010 Millennium Technology Prize (video)
By Sean Hollister 
posted June 10th 2010 3:18AM
posted June 10th 2010 3:18AM
posted June 10th 2010 3:18AM
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What? No Nobel Peace Prize?
It's not like they're hard to get, from what I've seen.
@Fragmented You must be an Android fanboy. They're as bad as PS3 fanboys it seems.
@Fragmented I don't think solar calculators use the kind of solar cells described in this video. Did you even watch the video prior to posting?
Thank god it's not another flame bait bias article. But somehow it got the word mention "iphone" and "Windows" in it. Looking forward to seeing these on my rooftop instead of a phone.
@cdf74dc9 I think it's more likely that if you were to put solar panels on your roof you'd still be using silicon panels. These would be replacing your windows.
@gpsxsirus
These can be used anywhere. It doesn't have to be a window. And since they're cheap, it would be much more reasonable to put a bunch of these on your roof than the super expensive silicon based variant.
@joshky
Okay, it's really not that odd. The article it links to was posted recently (4 days ago) and these are both written by the same guy so it's quite salient to him.
This is not proof of a bias; this is just reaching.
@derX
oh...mahbad. sorry to Hollister!
Ill get my facts right next time
@xenon73
well im perfectly ready to apologize if i realize i did something wrong at least.
@xenon73
Doh!, not derX, meant the comment by cdf74dc9
It's kinda sad that this the value of his research is only recognized 19 years after his discovery. Certainly the norm when it come to invention these days. University churn out the researches and you don't see it being used in technology until a decade later.
@thach1130 Because it takes a long time to perfect the technology
@Happy
Also you have to wait for any potential submarine patents to expire. It's nearly impossible to make anything these days without inadvertently rediscovering a concept that someone has already patented.
@joquarky So true.
@Fragmented GOD i cant believe im supporting you but
Everybod do what Fragmented says
I know people researching on these cells. Their advantage is they're much easier to make, you can assemble one in your kitchen compared to silicon which needs cleanrooms. As a result they're much cheaper. The problem is they don't last long enough now, and their efficiency is only about 4%.
@AaronX Yes, I think it's one of those cost:efficiency:durability issues. But we have always seen that "cost" always beats efficiency and durability in modern economy (with a big steel bat until they are dead). On the other hand, with the ease of building them I can imagine companies dedicated to "change your solar windows" every year in the future.
@AaronX
I did research on them. They are over 10% efficient now, with the right dyes. Picking a dye that is durable for many years is the trick, but there is lots of research in that area, and it can be done today.
I watched the document from which this is from. They made it seem really inefficient and "new" compared to regular solar panels.
@JX3 The fact is that they are like a thousand times cheaper to make than modern solar panels. I think it doesn't matter that their efficiency is lower if you can carpet whole houseblocks with it for less than normal panels... with the additional bonus that they are transparent! Winter garden roofs, windows, carports, etc!
@darknessangel
Transparent may be nifty, but that also means there is light that isn't being converted to energy (i.e. wasted).
"pair of scientists" somebody got screwed. :)
So he published this principle in 1991 and 19 years later wins a prize for it. My simple question: Where can I buy products made with such cells? I followed the links, but the linked articles do not mention him and it may well be different principles.
So the question stands: Are there any physically existing products based on his idea?
@dl7und
http://www.g24i.com/pages,products,84.html
They also re-sell their panels to another company that puts them on backpacks to recharge gadgets while walking around, can't remember the link though.
@rspray Ah, thanks! But it is a bit disappointing: Their one solar product could easily be (and basically is) manufactured with different solar cells, and had it not been for the FAQ, I would not have thought it was the same technology, given the number of times they say "highly efficient" in their product description.
So, probably another ten years until we may see actual solar windows...
Seems promising, if they can get the durability up to 10 years while keeping costs down, I think we can have a pretty good solar solution for at least a good part of someone's electric bill. I doubt this tech could actually fully power your home, but if the cost is but a fraction of standard solar cells, it could be a VERY good entry into some sort of sustainable energy. How much cheaper is yet to be determined... is Titanium Oxide that cheap? It doesn't sound that cheap to me.