Printed organic solar cells
Scientists in Finland—using 3D printers and photoelectric tech—created a novel way of harvesting energy. Via GOOD:
Here’s a prototype worth getting excited about: scientists at the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland have developed a “tree” that harvests energy. They are 3D printed, and, according to the manufacturer, can collect power in a number of ways. The leaves are “printed organic solar cells,” generating electricity not only from sunlight, but wind and temperature changes as well. The leaves, which each have their own power converters, can be used to power small electronic devices such as mobile phones and LED lights.
The Hypertextual Lounge 
Organic solar cells is an amazing invention and especially now that the electrical bills are very expensive. Organic solar cells are like solar panels but I think that they a better, because withe the solar panels you only get electricity from sunlight, on the other hand with the organic solar cells you can get electricity from sunlight, wind, and temperature, and I think it is even cheaper. For now it can only power small electronic devices, but imagine like in 5 years, it could power a whole house, building and a mall.
http://www.vttresearch.com/media/news/decorative-and-flexible-solar-panels-become-part-of-interior-design-and-the-appearance-of-objects
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Just imagine what can be don in the next few decades if these technologies are used responsibly.
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If this innovation develops, we wouldn’t need to cut down trees to get energy. This will make a positive impact in the environment and it will help the continuing of life. People could have this energy-harvesting trees on their gardens and save money. This is a great invention and hopefully it will keep growing.
http://www-prod.vttresearch.com/services/smart-industry/printed-and-hybrid-manufacturing-services/printed-oled-and-organic-solar-cells
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One of the many things that we have been able to mimic from nature–flight included–in plants. But energy conversion in an incredibly complex thing to achieve. In we choose to work toward s a more sustainable future, we need to take a hint or two from nature.
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The invention of the organic solar cells is a step forward in regards of conserving the environment. These solar cells serve as interior decorations while they harvest light from both indoor lighting as well as form sunlight. VTT is also developing a method to use light in wireless data transfer by using these solar cells as the receivers of such data.
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Would you say that VTT is a responsible corporation? Do they have humanity as their main interest? Or are they a for profit corporation? It is important for us to be critical of corporations and how they use technologies. I encourage you to do research on their history.
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I believe that this is a marvelous invention and a great advancement towards conserving our environment, that humans have honestly destroyed so much by creating inventions that expel harmful gases to the atmosphere that disrupt the homeostasis of nature. This invention uses sunlight in an efficient & less expensive way all while conserving it, hopefully this becomes a more common & accessible innovation in the future.
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I think that this is a brand new and good idea, it will help lessen the cutting of trees, and as time passes new uses will come from this invention. Right now it can only power up or charge small devices like cellphones, MP3 players, LED lights, and laptops. I read that there are military applications for this, it can help charge GPS and night vision scopes, these are just some of the things the organic solar cell can do now, imagine what it could do in the future, with better technology and more testing.
I got information on this topic from this website:
http://www.brighthub.com/environment/renewable-energy/articles/95572.aspx
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Let’s hope that these technologies have applications for common folks–that the interest of these companies is people, not “national security”–an euphemism for “perpetual warfare to maintain global dominion.”
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Here I found an image of the layers, and their descriptions, of organic solar cells. This image may help you understand, seeing each layers’ functions, how the cell works, what does it do, and how does it help us (in this case scientists). http://img.bhs4.com/DC/B/DCB222C99A8D0A689CF1B12EB9FA54ED12A41523_large.jpg
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I am quite psyched that this was invented and supposedly can be mass produced. But my question is how much does it cost? How realistic is it to mass produce these?
I am excited but not really optimistic regarding its wide-spread use because of technological breakthroughs that have been neglected in the past. People will continue to burn fossil fuels or to use other energy sources as long as its cost efficient and generates PROFIT. Many energy companies care more about their PROFITS than they do about the environment. That’s the main reason solar energy is still growing, but has been available for a very long time. The same goes for hydroelectric plants and wind turbines.
Solar panels were hard to perfect and were prone to skepticism. Some of the reservoirs in Puerto Rico are hydroelectric facilities but are no longer in use, such as the one in Carraizo. It was shut down because it was supposedly cost-ineffective, which is evidence that the government cared more about making a profit, instead of providing environmentally safe energy. Wind turbines have been erected here, but we haven’t seen much results have we? That is probably due to bad placing and planning.
Maybe these self-sustaining energy sources haven’t been fully adopted by energy companies because it would lower the costs of the electricity bill. Hence, less profits. After the companies have seen a return in their investment, the people theoretically wouldn’t have to pay, or would only pay for the service not the actual energy source. But that might cause companies to fire people, and so on. All of which is bad from a business stand point.
All of that being said the only way I see this way of energy thriving is by having independent and privately owned energy companies use it or individual people using it. Only companies with a conscious would actually make this available for the use of everyone, so the world could have an endless supply of clean energy.
Reference:
Cosmos: A Space Time Odyssey
Episode 12: The World Set Free
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According to the article, these organic solar cells are made with accessible materials. I’m a bit skeptic of the company that designed these solar cells. Do they have people’s interest or are they—as you said—interested only in profit? I suggest you do research on this company.
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It seems organic solar cells are going to be able to help the environment immensely if and when they’ll become more available for people to have. Not only are they incredible pieces of technology, they are also quite stylish, which will help appeal to people. In addition to these there are other types of solar powered technology, such as the solar roadways ( http://www.solarroadways.com/intro.shtml ). The creators of these roadways want to cover roads, parking lots, courts, and other outdoor pathways to be able to generate more solar energy for a variety of uses.
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Humanity’s fossil fuel addiction has made it impossible for governments to see that the sun—which we have right there, next door—is the best possible source of renewable energy. Let’s hope it is not too late.
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The advances in renewable energy such as the leaf is great not only because it helps the environment but because it also means that renewable energy is becoming more common and that the world is embracing new technology which would lead to cleaner energy and a better environment. Such creation as the leaf also tells you how once expensive technology has become cheap and is able to be produced without much trouble. The leaf it self is an advance mirroring nature they have been able to create an electricity producing source that not only uses the sun but can also use temperature and vibrations to generate electricity. If the world continues to move in this direction using every available space to create energy such as in the link which uses windows to create energy the world would become cleaner and more environmentally friendly.
http://solarwindow.com/technology/
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Renewable energy should be a no brainier. But, unfortunately, many interests get in the way. Can you think of any examples that account for these interests?
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I think that these organic solar cells can help the environment greatly as time passes. They not only get energy from the sun but from winds and changes in temperature. The materials used to create the organic solar cells are low at costs which means that soon we may have lots of these “trees” that harvest energy for the better of the environment.
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Many of these materials are cheap and easy to find. This suggest that organic solar cells could be applied in real scenarios in the next few decades.
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These organic solar cells are a tremendous advancement in the conservation of our environment. It is an invention that helps the planet instead of being harmful to it, unlike other technological inventions. It uses natural resources in an efficient way and also helps conserve out ecosystems with less tree-cutting and contamination. Although it is a remarkable invention, we must also think about how convenient it is financially and if it would be realistic to produce them at a fast rate.
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The mayor obstacle of mass production of organic solar cells would be, not surprisingly, politics. Oil based economy has been with us for a little bit more than a century. To stop using oil as a source of energy, would mean to rethink how we live our lives. That is a very big step that many governments are not willing to take. But we can begin making changes individually. Advancements like these are good first steps.
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These organic solar cells will help alot with the environment and if made in big amounts to sell to the public could be a big hit. These small ones have enough energy to charge a mobile phone imagine how much energy many of them together could produce. In the future, the energy to fuel our eletricity could be much cheaper with inventions such as these.
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A very cool innovation that also uses 3D printing in unprecedented ways.
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So many aspects of this technology are amazing, for example the leaves are composed of organic polymers, these are highly conductive being much more efficient and cost-effective than the inorganic conductors currently used such as silicon. These organic polymers will allow for new technologies as they are flexible and have great thermal stability.
http://www.fortmilltimes.com/2015/02/27/4063122_research-and-markets-printed-organic.html?rh=1
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The science of materials is an emergent field with the potential of revolutionizing, not just science, but the way we live our lives.
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I think this is a very interesting and useful product, as it can harvest energy from almost any type of light, the scientists at VTT are currently experimenting on harvesting light from wireless data transfers. Even though these printable solar cells are not as efficient as current solar panels, I’m looking forward to the progress of this innovative invention and how it will help change the world.
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If used irresponsibly, these energy harvesting trees could be the salvation Earth needs. It is an innovation that blends “nature” with one of the things that is vital to our daily life, energy. The environment would continue its progress into recuperating from all the damage that has been done to it; this being an excellent aid. It would also benefit society financially, due to that it is another form to produce energy. Just imagine how future generations would grow up if this innovation would be a household device.
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Intriguing to know how mankind has progressed to this point. Not only is the fact that humanity can create almost anything with the new development of 3D printing curious, but it is also worth mentioning that a new input (although limited) source of energy has arised. Currently at where this new inventions fate lies is ambiguous. However, I believe that as mankind keeps pushing the boundary of technological advancement the efficiency and output of energy this contraption gives out will most certainly establish it as a possible source of energy in our near future.
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These 3D printed energy harvesting trees are moving humanity one step forward in saving our planet. The VTT, a non-profit part of the Finnish innovation system under the domain of the Ministry of Employment and the Economy, has accomplished to mass produce solar panels and at the same time make them relatively affordable. This type of technology can be later on brought to a bigger scale and transcend. Who knows the possibilities that this innovation can bring to the future of energy conservation?
Reference: http://3dprint.com/45558/finnish-3d-printed-solar-trees/
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This was achieved by the introduction of new materials, improved materials engineering, and more sophisticated device structures. Two competitive production techniques used today are either wet solution processing or dry thermal evaporation of the organic constituents. The field of organic solar cells profited well from the development of light-emitting diodes based on similar technologies, which have entered the market recently.
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This article may be exciting an all, but aren’t we supposed to take care of our planet? I mean I know technology is moving fast and all, but there are certain things we should not be experimenting with just yet. This truly scares me, as soon as the video started it reminded me of the movie :”The Lorax”, and I really do not wish live in a world where everything is man made.
In my opinion this type of advancement should be seen more as a remedy in case we finish of the more viable resources. In a way it sort of encourages people to just keep being reckless and to continue life as if our existence isnt affecting the rest of the organisms in this planet.
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I understand your anxiety. The thing is that we have to intervene somehow if we want to make it during this century. I believe that these technologies are a good way of giving us a better chance to survive what has not yet happened—a global climate catastrophe.
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Scientists are finally discovering multiple ways to use natural and organic resources to terminate the cutting down of trees, which are obviously essential to our existence. These scientists are using organic resources to re-create necessary commodities for our modern era, such as electricity. For example, a German start up company (Heliatek) has developed a solar technology using organic solar cells, the same ones used for these magnificent trees, that could be applied to windows or integrated into concrete facades, creating electricity-generating tinted windows and structures. There are many more companies that are following these examples, and hopefully this new technology will continue to be carried on and improved for the sake of our future.
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These organic resources could one day find their way into our own bodies, blurring the lines between natural and artificial.
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According to their website, the manufacturer of these types of products could greatly benefit society in the near future. If they keep improving their production methods and increase the product’s potential, then we can infer that in the future society won’t need to depend on the government for electrical energy if they have their own source of energy that comes from the enviroment. This would reduce the use of fossil fules and diminish the amount of polution in the enviroment.
http://www.vttresearch.com/media/news/decorative-and-flexible-solar-panels-become-part-of-interior-design-and-the-appearance-of-objects
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This is an incredible breakthrough, and a huge step for a more eco-friendly environment whilst enjoying modern-day commodities. Sadly, the success of this product is in no way guaranteed. Many major companies are unwilling to change their harmful ways in favor of an environmentally-friendly method if it alters their profit. As we know, there have been eco-friendly energy alternatives for years, yet many companies make little to no movement to accommodate them. While I am amazed by this product, I can’t help but doubt that it will be seen anywhere other than in the houses of upper middle to wealthy class families, and even then, it would mostly be for the aesthetic of it.
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Even when the practical side of it is evident, they are beautiful, which can be a disadvantage for their use, precisely because of what you said Adriana: “While I am amazed by this product, I can’t help but doubt that it will be seen anywhere other than in the houses of upper middle to wealthy class families, and even then, it would mostly be for the aesthetic of it.”
On the other hand, according to the videos—I uploaded a playlist; there are six of them—they are relatively cheap to make. This said, these solar panels can be used in impoverished countries were electric grids are not a logistical option.
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I do think that this is an interesting invention that could potentially be the lifeline or redemption that earth will eventually need, but on the other hand, if this creation is used carelessly or for personal interest instead of the greater good it might cause more problems than it can solve.
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We cannot say that solar panels have widespread use. Nevertheless, I do believe that this innovation can make photovoltaic use more accessible.
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Watching the solar leaf video has made me realize that science can create technology for extremely good applications. They just solved two problems: deforestation and renewable energy. Now that is “killing two birds with one stone”. One can learn from these scientists that developed the solar leaf to use technology to our advantage.
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This innovation, along with other alternatives of sustainable energy use, promise a lot. It’s easy to be overwhelmed with cynicism nowadays, especially with the current geopolitical context, but I think we can should acknowledge something amazing when we see it.
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If used responsibly, these energy harvesting trees could be the salvation Earth needs. It is an innovation that blends “nature” with one of the things that is vital to our daily life, energy. The environment would continue its progress into recuperating from all the damage that has been done to it; this being an excellent aid. It would also benefit society financially, due to that it is another form to produce energy. Just imagine how future generations would grow up if this innovation would be a household device.
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Like it was said on the video: Imagine a whole forest of these. They can power a cell phone in their current stage, what will they’ll be able to power in the next 5 years.
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I think this inventions is innovative, fresh and beneficial in many ways. I agree with what Gabriel Miranda said concerning renewable energy and that it should be more applied to live in a cleaner Earth. It not just helps the environment, but also society and economy. This organic solar cells are really promising for the future and may hold the key for progress. The site below is a perfect article that contains information about what can we expect from this innovation and the future perspectives, which are very positive.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1369702113004562
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This invention, though very useful and made with good intentions, could also cause some havoc. Yes, this invention could facilitate our lifestyle and yes, like Tatiana said, it can be the salvation Earth needs if used responsibly, but planting “trees” to harvest energy will do us no good if we abuse its power. I will not be a negative Nancy and say that this never work, far from the contrary, this is an amazing prototype, but if we put so much emphasis on the fact that this will save our environment, chances are we will be devastated when they results don’t reach our expectations. Let’s face it, energy is not the only thing needed to make our environment sane anymore; we need to change our lifestyles! We have such amazing resources which we do nothing but abuse them, and that is what we need to to in order to help our environment. That this energy-harvesting “tree” is an amazing invention, yes it is, but for it to work properly, its resources will need to be used responsibly.
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I believe this is a great step forward regarding the environment’s conservation, imagine the possibilities in a matter of years. It’s incredible to see what scientists are capable of creating using organic solar cells, in this case 3D-printed leaves that are able to harvest energy not only from the sun but from vibrations and climate changes. Just like some people mentioned this is an amazing innovation because we would no longer depend on deforestation and petroleum for energy, but the fact that most companies give more importance to the generation of profit rather than to what is actually beneficial to us and eco-friendly, makes me wonder if these will ever be mass-produced or even accessible to us.
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For decades, human beings have been trying to produce energy without burning fossil fuels. I think the organic solar cell is a great innovation in energy technology, since it harvests energy without harming the environment. If this technology is used responsibly, energy harvesting would not only be an excellent leap in energy technology, but also it would mean another great step in the conservation of trees and an excellent step in the stabilization of Earth’s global warming, that is caused by the burning of fossil fuels.
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The invention of these solar cells is impressive. It is the product of what the human race has tried to achieve, advance in technology and conserve the environment. These solar cells improve vastly our knowledge and the ways in which we can improve technology. They are a step forward towards a bright future, and will serve as a template for many other inventions that will conserve the environment also. The following link explains the organic solar cells in more depth and its advantages: http://pubs.sciepub.com/rse/2/3/2/
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I’m personally all for more environmentally friendly ways of harnessing energy, and get excited when I see such innovations, but judging by the lack of noticeable technology that’s reached us in the recent years. I can’t help but be skeptical. A small search on failed projects shows that there are countless unsuccessful attempts, most having been funded by an extremely large amount of money, to find a reliable alternative. ( http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/Rest-in-Peace-The-List-of-Deceased-Solar-Companies, a list which just includes solar companies that have closed) But it’s not just the failure brought doubt on alternative energy sources being possible, but also the conflicting information everywhere whether green energy can actually work or not, even if those arguments against it come from questionable sources. I suppose it’s good to wait a few years and see if progress has been done regarding the new solar cells, but I can’t say I have much hope for it.
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I think this is a tremendous upgrade for our environment. It’s amazing how something so small can absorb so much light. It is something that should’ve been created long ago when we really needed it since it could be used in many ways including your home, personal objects, and also in the military.
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It is true that these cells can a step forward i our favor because in these days we cannot live without our phones or computer or any other technology to keep us busy but as the video says, we can stop cutting trees and start adding trees. This would be great for our environment but in the end of the video it sounds a little like they want to build a forest with these organic solar cells and to create a forest of those, a forest with living trees and plants must first be cut down. So in the end the advantage isn’t really for the environment and for us to save money, it is mainly to sell those cells and make money out of them by telling people they can save money if they buy the plant. In addition these cells are still not 100% efficient and this is a short explanation of why that could be http://www.brighthub.com/environment/renewable-energy/articles/100070.aspx
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The fact that these solar cells have been developed is really fascinating. This development as a matter of fact, shows how we are starting to make conscience of what’s happening with our environment. It’s amazing how these people took curiosity to a whole other level and developed this amazing technology.
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I believe organic solar cells or organic photovoltaics can serve as an aid in the harnessing of energy and the conservation of the environment if used in the correct manner. Even though it is a good idea with well-developed scientific bases, the acceptance it will receive is rather doubtful. The options of solar panels, hydroelectric plants, and wind turbines have been available for years now but still fossil fuels remain the main source of energy. Pros of these organic solar cells are low-cost manufacturing, abundant materials, and flexible substrates. Cons of this technology are low efficiency, low stability and low strength. After weighing the pros and cons, I think society should adopt this technology but not completely rely on it. Everything in excess is unfavorable. Our dependance and abuse on fossil fuels is what caused all the devastating consequences we see today. Being able to balance our dependability on different sources of energy is key on having a more successful future in terms of energy harvests.
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http://energy.gov/eere/sunshot/organic-photovoltaics-research
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Solar energy, which produces no discharge, no carbon footprint, and no pollution, can be used in widespread since it is an unlimited source of energy. But, while i believe that this a great development towards the conservation of our environment, I am concerned with some factors regarding it’s initial cost, it’s efficiency according to a specific location, and reliability. It could also pose a threat to birds and insects, and it can be harmful to eyesight from solar reflectors.
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Although these technologies are still in BETA its fairly easy to imagine all the possible uses, imagine a city whos skyscrapers are filled with this same technology or fake trees in the suburbs helping with the conservation of energy. who knows how this technology will be applied in the future but one thing is for sure it will definitely be coming soon and when it does it’ll be a game changer.
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There are buildings that are using algae to power their needs. I suggest you do research on them.
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If the company’s statements are true and the product does indeed work, it is a great accomplishment for mankind. To be able to create an organic solar cell capable of harnessing energy is, in my opinion, up there with the invention of the wheel as one of mankind’s greatest achievements. At the moment, it might be too pricey to be a common thing, but eventually as more companies learn how to create it, by law of supply and demand, it will become more accesible and common. It can be used for many things, for example, to power a building or it can even be used for space travel in some kind of way. I once read an article about an inventor that created a synthetic leaf. You may read the article in the link below:
http://www.iflscience.com/technology/inventor-develops-synthetic-leaf-produces-oxygen
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I find it hard to describe the way I was taken aback when I first started to hear the man in this commercial. The way he said we were “adding trees” and not removing trees were the words that pushed my limit. Many people have been so overwhelmed by new technological advances that they do not realize that what they may see as an improvement may just be another scheme to steal their money and make the “bad guy” more powerful.
In this case, the fact that electric trees are being promoted as replacements for real trees is depressing. I will not hold that back. Yes, they may power small electric things and eventually large projects, but do trees only serve as a source of energy, like the man in the video announced? Is a tree’s purpose to give us warmth or power trains?
Trees are not just used for energy. A family may chop down a copule of wooden logs to construct a cabin to live in. Industries mass produce pencils and other wooden items to cover everyday necessities. More importantly, trees are a major source of the gaseous molecule that sustains animal life and complements other kinds of life: molecular oxygen. Through their processes of photosynthesis, they not only add to the air we breathe but also allow us to take part in the beauty of the complexity of cellular processes.
These versatile uses and functions prove to be enough reason to stop the promotion of artificial replacements that will never live up to the real thing. We cannot allow the production of fake trees with such joy and excitement, for we are missing the true purpose of reforestation. It does not involve adding what is new and “a la mode.” New is not always better. Corporations should drive the community to create awareness for the need of real, breathing trees, for no kind of technological advancement will ever replace what does not need any more maintenance than the natural functioning of the world.
Sadly, we are altering that, too.
Reflecting upon all of this, a very familiar case comes to my mind. Some of you may know it as the infamous modern recreation of one of Dr. Seuss’ most famous stories, but I know it as the original 25-minute short film of the “Lifted Lorax.” In this film, we can see exactly what would happen if all of what is above would cease to exist, if all trees and greenery would be completely used up without any kind of reforestation. This story has many interpretations, most of them mind-blowing. I encourage any reader to see this short film and compare it to the newer blockbuster. There is much to learn from this simple child’s story, not because of its appeal to mature audiences, but because of its unfailing application to our current times.
Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8V06ZOQuo0k
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I don’t think that this commercial–it its exactly that: a ‘commercial’–is promoting the creation of ersatz (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ersatz_good) trees to substitute the real ones. I give them more credit than that. After all, they are scientists; they should know better.
This said, I do agree that we should critically examine the role of corporations in our environment. Yes, many corporations behave like a psycopath would (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xa3wyaEe9vE); but this doesn’t mean that we should expect every single corporation to behave this way.
I give you credit for being critical of the information we consume, but this criticism should not lead us to take luddite (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luddite) positions that often do more harm than good.
If we could use these 3D printed solar power cells to charge our cell phones, imagine all the fossil fuels that would not be used to charge our mobiles. This would result in the improvement of our carbon footprints (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_footprint). I cannot think of a better application for this product, which is in its early stages of development.
Thanks for the link to the Lorax. I love Dr. Seuss; he’s a storyteller, but a great philosopher too.
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I agree with you entirely. This type of invention is worthy of being developed since its purpose is to create better living conditions. Yet we must use it accordingly and keep its use to what it is intended to do.
The fact that this can spur the development of larger innovations to electrically power everyday things by using natural energy (wind, sunlight, etc.) shows that we have developed a sense of awareness for the wellbeing of the planet. However, since this technology is so new, it will take time to fully take advantage of it, for fossil fuels and other consumable sources still serve as our major fountains of fuel and energy.
The problem is that since this type of energy sources are seen as unreliable and fairly new, people can consider them as underdeveloped. This may cause the “bad guys” to rely on their current sources of energy (petroleum, wood, etc.) until a more stable form of natural energy consumption is developed.
It is sad that the organizations that are truly working towards a greater good are often overshadowed by the corporations that intend on staying with what is commonplace (petrol and stuff). We can blame this placement of attention on the media; even though it intends to do good by pointing out what is wrong with society, it indirectly accustoms us to see the bad things in life and criticize them.
Before getting too exited over this, we must wait for further developments of this promising achievement. It would be a shame to see these new electronic leaves turning out to be like a disappointing game: the trailer shows the best parts while the gameplay leaves you with regret. In this case, we would be left with the regret of taking this invention as the solution to the energy problem.
Good things come to those who wait. Let’s just hope that our wait is not repaid as a failed project. I have a lot of faith in this new concept.
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This article proves that there has been a great advance in technology. I’m truly impressed of how many things scientists can create by inspiring themselves with ordinary things in our environment (trees), and that can lead to benefiting our society like these organic solar cells in Finland. This process is very efficient since the leaves can give out energy by obtaining solar power, wind, or even changes in temperature. Therefore, because we always have these factors in our environment and solar energy is a renewable source, it makes this project more cost effective than having to produce energy from electrical plants. Also, this puts Finland as a very technologically advanced country. It would be a great idea if this encourages other parts of the world to do the same.
http://www.alternate-power.org/solar-power-advantages-and-disadvantages/
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In Central American countries like Costa Rica. Visit this link so that you can see what technology and good politics can do: https://dar.uga.edu/costa_rica/index.php/site/sustainability_initiatives_detail/uga_costa_rica_sustainability_report/campus
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Technology is truly astonishing. It has evolved greatly over the years, for the better. This prototype is an excellent example of that. Finland has also been a great contributor for technology; they are known as “Europe’s technology leader” and “the center of the continent’s tech industry”. They are known for this because they created the cell phone leader, Nokia, and they emerged as a place for multinationals to recruit and erect labs. The government and entrepreneurs are currently moving into clean technology.
This prototype is truly revolutionary. Imagine a world where all of the trees work like this one. In a way, it does: like real trees, these prototype trees harvest energy. But, unlike real trees, these are 3D printed and can collect power in a number of ways. They generate electricity from sunlight, wind, and temperature changes.
That fact is truly amazing: how the rays of the sun, a light breeze, or a change or temperature can generate electricity, something made by man. The leaves of the trees each have their own power converters, which can be used to power your mobile phone or LED lights. So, be sure to look out for the future, because you just might find yourself charging your phone with a tree.
Article on Finland and its technology: http://www.cnet.com/news/why-is-finland-europes-technology-leader-the-prime-minister-explains/
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It’s rather fascinating and surprising that with so many technological advances throughout the years we have only explored just 5% of the ocean. And to think we have discovered so many diferent species of organisms in just 5% of the sea and we still have 95% left to discover. So many species just waiting to be discovered. And who knows… Maybe we find prehistorical creatures we were so sure were extinct such as megalodons. To me it’s very interesting and intriguing.
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I agree. There are many things left to discover from our oceans, which have the potential of helping us in the future.
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It’s truly impressive to see how technology is developing in such magnificent ways and how we’re finding many solutions to the problems we have carried by time.I believe this changes the game completely for factories producing electricity and for us. If having this type of plant means it could give us electricity, we wouldn’t have the problem of deforestation.
http://www.vttresearch.com/services/smart-industry/printed-and-hybrid-manufacturing-services/printed-oled-and-organic-solar-cells
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I think this is an amazing idea, is one step foward to conserving the invironment and using what the environment provides wisely. It is important to see how the humans are looking for other options to also help the other species other than our own. Finaly, it is great to know how many things there are to discover.
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Check out what countries like Costa Rica are doing to increase sustainability.
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This invention is in my opinion a fundamental asset in the research for alternative energy resources. Using this organic solar cells we can convert temperature, wind, and solar energy into electricity to power our appliances. Even though being a fundamental asset in science, it still has flaws that need to be improved. From reading this site, http://www.vttresearch.com/media/news/decorative-and-flexible-solar-panels-become-part-of-interior-design-and-the-appearance-of-objects , I learned that the solar organic cells printed have as an advantage its flexibility to be placed on more than 1 type of surfaces on a wider range. For example it can be placed on billboards, walls, windows, and even devices, while before it could only be placed into patterns forming stripes. It can also be placed inside buildings to harvest indoor light. While having this as an advantage, and also it being light weight, it has as a disadvantage the fact that its efficiency to convert solar energy into electricity is lowered compared to the original rigid silicon-based solar panels. But even though its efficiency is low, the material cost of this cells is low cost, with the production methods including recycled materials and using materials such as perovskite which can be printed with same methods and increase efficiency in future. Even though it still has its flaws, this invention was able to make improvements in solar power technology by improving its flexibility, light weight, and its low weight.
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3D printing might change the way in which we do a lot of things in the next few decades—from commerce to health, even energy production.
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I find this Organic solar cell or another name they give it, Plastic solar cell, very interesting in the way that it uses a type of photovoltaic that uses electronics which are also organic that deals with small organic molecule. This molecules are processable at a high throughput and not to mentioned cheap, which results in a low cost to fabricate a big amount of volume.
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I think this is a very good invention because on the contrary to stem cell it is available to general public.Organic semiconductors originate from abundant and therefore potentially low cost materials. Their strong light absorption (100 times stronger than silicon), the tunability of the absorption spectrum by chemical synthesis and their deposition from solution under ambient condition resulting in an ultra-thin solar absorber makes them a highly promising materials class for a wide range of applications ranging from energy harvesting indoors, off-grid solar systems to applications like building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) and large scale electrical power generation in the long term. The unique properties of organic semiconductors in contrast to inorganic semiconductors like silicon allow for the development of
• Low cost
• Highly flexible and
• Low weight solar modules
Here is a link with advantages of printing solar organic cells http://www.eight19.com/technology/benefits-printed-plastic-solar
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The development of “trees” by 3D printing is fascinating. This shows how people are concerned about the environment. This product can be really useful in this time with all the global warming. It’s amazing how people took technology to a whole another level.
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Scientists discovering multiple ways to use natural and organic resources to terminate the cutting down of trees, which are obviously essential to our existence. I think that this is an interesting invention that could potentially be the lifeline or redemption that earth will eventually need. I think they are a step forward towards a bright future, and will serve as a template for many other inventions that will conserve the environment. But I also research the advantages and disadvantages and it says that they are not fully efficient: http://www.brighthub.com/environment/renewable-energy/articles/100070.aspx
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After reading this I can actually picture houses full of giant leaves just like that not only will it revolutionize our energy sources but also the design of houses in the future. I think this will definitely help in our fight against global warming about becoming more ecofriendly.
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