As oil and gas prices continue to skyrocket, interest in renewable energy is starting to take center stage. One of the most abundant sources is solar power. However, solar panels have traditionally been expensive to mass-produce. Researchers at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) have developed a more affordable way to harness the sun's rays by using solar cells made out of everyday plastics.
A team of engineers at the Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science led by professor Yang Yang recently unveiled an innovative polymer that can store solar energy. They believe it can be mass-produced at only 10 percent to 20 percent of the current cost of traditional cells, which would help make the technology more economically viable.