The Secret to Better Solar CellsIs Blue Jeans?

After a series of studies and a plethora of research, the bright minds at Cornell University have discovered a simpler and more efficient way to create solar cells. Surprisingly enough, they found the solution in an everyday pair of blue jeans.
Yes, thats right. Jeans.

The molecules found in jeans and various other ink dyes can actually be used to create a structure called COF, or covalent organic framework. These in turn can help make solar cells far cheaper and more flexible than those made from other molecules.

Phthalocyanines, aka common industrial dyes, have a similar structure to chlorophyll and can absorb nearly the entire solar spectrum. The process puts these molecules together in a two-dimensional sheet, which are then stacked on top of one another in order to open up a pathway for a charge.

While the research has thus far only led to the structure for a solar cell and not the cell itself, researchers believe that they will eventually use the model to create actual solar cells. Clearly, theyre on to something here.

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