A new method for producing “electronic ink” — a specialized form of ink from non-toxic nanometer-sized crystals of silicon — has been developed by researchers from the University of Minnesota’s College of Science and Engineering and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. The researchers say that their new technologybrings the possibility of solar-cells-as-cheap-as-roof-shingles one step closer to reality, as well as the means to lower the production costs of a variety of other electronics.
“Imagine a world where every child in a developing country could learn reading and math from a touch pad that costs less than $10 or home solar cells that finally cost less than fossil fuels,” stated Uwe Kortshagen, a University of Minnesota mechanical engineering professor and one of the authors of a new paper detailing the research.
The reason that the electronic ink is so valuable, is that the ‘ink’ can be used to, essentially, “print out” electronics — potentially a much cheaper way to produce many commonly used electronic devices.