Comment Product: Myth and Matter (Score 2, Informative) 242
From what I know of Spheral Solar, they have yet to release any such products on the market. However, another firm, Iowa Thin Film Technologies (http://www.iowathinfilm.com) has been doing this stuff for years. The modules utilize amorphous silicon on a polymer substrate, pressed out through a cool roll-to-roll manufacturing process. Most of ITFT's products are integrated into portable electronics, but they do have large scale building materials used in tents and other devices. According to their web site, their stuff is so flexible it can wrap around a Coke can and continue to function.
As for powering laptops with this stuff, good luck. Laptops suck an enormous amount of power that only the really high-end (gallium aresenide, gallium indium) modules can even begin to touch. Of course, according to ITFT's pictures from this year's CES, they do have a recharge system for cell phones and PDAs.
As for powering laptops with this stuff, good luck. Laptops suck an enormous amount of power that only the really high-end (gallium aresenide, gallium indium) modules can even begin to touch. Of course, according to ITFT's pictures from this year's CES, they do have a recharge system for cell phones and PDAs.
