Metal nanomesh could create flexible solar panels

The way we design and use solar panels could change rapidly, thanks to a new discovery by University of Houston researchers. By optimising topology of a metal nanomesh and its adhesion to an underlying substrate, they created a material with improved stretchability and eliminated fatigue, while maintaining transparency.

A special lithographic technique called ‘grain boundary lithography’ controlled the dimensions of the mesh structure. The metal nanomesh remained transparent after being stretched to three times its length. Gold nanomeshes on prestretched slippery substrates impressively showed no wear when stretched 50,000 times. The slippery surface advantageously allowed the structure of the nanomesh to reorient to relax the stress.

Such electrically conductive, flexible and transparent electrodes could lead to next-generation flexible electronics such as advanced solar cells, the researchers say. The nanomesh electrodes are also promising for implantable electronics such as pacemakers because the nanomeshes are biocompatible.

The research was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.