Spray-on solar cells from Down Under?

Australian scientists are working on a technique for spray-on solar cells. See the article here.

Now, this won't be sold in a can at the hardware store. But if they are successful, it will be an intriguing new method for manufacturing lower-cost solar cells.

The reason for the high cost of solar cells is the fact they must be coated in a vacuum. Skip that step and the price tag comes down.

According to the article: The new method uses a spray-on hydrogen film and spray-on anti-reflective film. In this spray-on method vacuums are not needed. The cells travel along a conveyor belt where the films are sprayed on. The simplified process could trim down about $5 million in capital equipment costs per medium-sized factory.

Australian solar company Spark Solar and Braggone Oy, a materials group from Finland, are working with Australian National University (ANU) on the method, which may be available by 2011.