Chemblog!

Researchers think new, flexible, lightweight organic solar cells may soon power everything from laptops to iPods.

The abundance of solar energy is a tantalizing alternative to the dwindling reserves of fossil fuels.

Until recently, the preferred material to harness that power has been solar panels made of silicon crystals.

Some success has come in powering homes and even cars. The widespread use of solar panels has been limited, however, by their cost to produce. Researchers believe they can overcome this barrier by cheaply producing an efficient organic solar cell.

The new organic cells are made from pentacene: sheets made of naturally occurring rings of carbon and hydrogen . Since engineers do not have to chemically manufacture them in the complicated process required for silicon panels, the organic cells are less expensive.