MIT puts solar cells on paper

There has been talk recently of the first solar powered aircraft. But it appears a research team at MIT have gone one better and developed the first solar powered paper planes.

That's because the new solar cell production method, devised by a team at MIT, is able to print photovoltaic (PV) materials directly onto a sheet of plain old A4, creating a cheap alternative to conventional cell materials.

This means that it is possible to attach wires directly from the PV enabled paper and use it as an energy source, as in the video below. Using a process similar to that which adorns the innards of crisp packets with a silvery lining, the scientists have managed to print the photovoltaic cells in a way which is much less harmful way.