Boyé Lafayette De Mente
TOKYO—One of the most extraordinary areas of research in Japan—among many that are having and will have fundamental affects on the way we live—is one that involves technology that makes it possible to create molecules in liquid forms that duplicate the solar cell and organic electroluminescence processes that create electricity.
In other words, these liquid molecules can be spread on textiles and other things in a thin organic layer, just as paint is applied to a surface, and when the molecules dry they form a permanent covering. When light strikes these objects—whatever they are—it creates electricity!
This technology exists and it works, and as it spreads into the building, apparel, appliance and other industries the overall affects in virtually every field of human endeavor are going to be revolutionary.
The clothing industry is expected to be one of the leaders in making use of this new technology. The possible applications are mind-boggling. For one thing, clothing could be designed for winter that would keep the wearer warm. Apparel could be designed so that the power is focused in one place, a pocket for example, where you could keep some kind of electronic device that needs recharging.
In fact, any electronic device that can be exposed to sunlight and is coated with the “spreadable solar cells” would become self-charging. Another of the more interesting uses will be to make the walls of homes and buildings glow with their own light. Still another use will be television sets that can be rolled up like paper, and unrolled when you want to watch them.
At this time, the energy conversion rate of the technology ranges from 3.8 percent to 5.7 percent. As soon as the researchers ramp this up to 7-10 percent—and they will—it is going to have an impact that will surely be mind-boggling. When the technology reaches this level, many of the devices that now must be plugged in to operate, or have internal batteries, will be independent of outside electrical sources.
Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation and Sumitomo Chemical Company are leaders in the field. Tokitaro Hoshijima, director of the spreadable solar cell project at Mitsubishi Chemical, says the goal is to create a world that does not use power sockets. That is not likely to happen within the next decade or so, but just think of what fundamental changes will occur if only half of the world’s electrical sockets become obsolete.
Hoshijima is working with the University of Tokyo to enhance the power output of the spreadable molecules. He says the technology creates a kind of “soup” that is a mixture of fullerene molecules and the organic semiconductor material tetrabenzoporphyrin, which resembles chlorophyll in its ability to convert light into electricity.
When the “soup” is spread on an object it evaporates, leaving a thin organic film that works like a solar cell.
A spokesperson for Sumitomo Chemical says they have already achieved an electrical conversion rate of 5.7 percent and expect to reach 10 percent by the spring of 2009.
Among the industries that will probably be among the first to be transformed by this new technology are sportswear and camping tents for use in temperate and cold climates. Spread on tents, the “molecular soup” would provide power for outdoor heaters as well as cooking. Winter coats and jackets of all kinds are also natural recipients of this technology.
Sony Corporation, which is already producing a variety of OEL (organic electro-luminescent) displays, is moving in the direction of making use of the new technology, including using printing rather than silicon technology to produce solar cells.
Sony researchers are working on televisions that have an OEL panel on one side and a layer of spreadable solar cell molecules on the other side. In addition to being the ultimate lightweight TV, they will not have to be plugged into an outside power source.
Copyright © 2008 by Boyé Lafayette De Mente
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Boyé Lafayette De Mente is the author of more than 50 pioneer business, cultural and languages books on China, Japan, Korea and Mexico, including SPEAK JAPANESE TODAY – A Little Language Goes a Long Way! [available from Amazon.com] To see a list and synopses of his books go to:
