Since I am currently taking up Electronics And Communications Engineering, there would be no wonder why a specific article caught my utmost attention.
It was entitled: "Solar Cells: Coming to a window near you?" by John D. Sutter, published at the CNN website, June 9 ,2010.
Swiss Professor Michael Gratzel was recently been awarded by Finland's Technology Academy with the Millennium Technology Prize - which is none other than the biggest award in the field of technology!
His innovation of the solar cells, now called the Gratzel Cells, were credited by the scientific community because it not only presents large-scale solutions for the carbon/energy crisis through renewable resources, but also offers such solutions in a much lower-costing scheme.
What's the catch here? His discovery is simply amazing because it could convert a regular window into electricity-generating solar cells! Much more, also according to him, solar cells of this breed could be integrated in almost any objects we encounter everyday like furniture, lamp, street posts, etc.
But how? Professor Gratzel was inspired by the photosynthetic process plants use to generate charges. He is now on his way in duplicating the primary charge separation step through an artificial means, more likely, an artificial photosynthesis. This technology would be a great alternative for the silicon photovoltaics which cost a lot more.
There's something else. I am just so happy with the acknowledgment of this promising technology because for the record, photosynthesis-inspired solar cells was once our feasibility study by my group mates in my university.
This is just awesome!
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