Human Hair Solar Panel

[dambit]

Hi All,

Just read a very interesting article about a kid from Nepal who has built a 9V 18W solar panel using hair as opposed to silicon.

Teenager invents £23 solar panel that could be solution to developing world's energy needs..made from human hair | Mail Online

The melanin in the hair is the key and is light sensative, however I have not the slightest idea on how these are constructed, but am thinking that this would be an amazing project for home energy enthusiasts.

Cheers,

Steve

[morpher44]

The melanin in the hair is the key and is light sensative, however I have not the slightest idea on how these are constructed, but am thinking that this would be an amazing project for home energy enthusiasts.

Unless your balding .. like me.

That is an amazing idea!!!

[john_g]

Hi All
There are many articles on the web saying this story is a hoax - just passing on.

[boguslaw]

Not necessary a hoax. He may use bare bone solar panels connecting them using hair.

[kdas]

Not necessary a hoax. He may use bare bone solar panels connecting them using hair.

Hi All,

Hairs have melanin as component.

Let's read wiki:
The photochemical properties of melanin make it an excellent photoprotectant. It absorbs harmful UV-radiation and transforms the energy into harmless amounts of heat through a process called "ultrafast internal conversion". This property enables melanin to dissipate more than 99.9% of the absorbed UV radiation as heat[3] and it keeps the generation of free radicals at a minimum (see photoprotection). This prevents the indirect DNA damage which is responsible for the formation of malignant melanoma.

So if melanin can absorb and transform UV-radiation to heat why do not suggest that it can transform radiation to electricity?

[Sephiroth]

Hi All,

Hairs have melanin as component.

Let's read wiki:
The photochemical properties of melanin make it an excellent photoprotectant. It absorbs harmful UV-radiation and transforms the energy into harmless amounts of heat through a process called "ultrafast internal conversion". This property enables melanin to dissipate more than 99.9% of the absorbed UV radiation as heat[3] and it keeps the generation of free radicals at a minimum (see photoprotection). This prevents the indirect DNA damage which is responsible for the formation of malignant melanoma.

So if melanin can absorb and transform UV-radiation to heat why do not suggest that it can transform radiation to electricity?

Because it doesn't transform uv into electricity?

As said above it transforms it into heat. It's like saying a chalkboard can generate electricity because it's black.

I'm sceptical Sorry

[kdas]

Because it doesn't transform uv into electricity?

As said above it transforms it into heat. It's like saying a chalkboard can generate electricity because it's black.

I'm sceptical Sorry

I've found interesting link PLoS ONE: Ionizing Radiation Changes the Electronic Properties of Melanin and Enhances the Growth of Melanized Fungi

Conclusions/Significance
Exposure of melanin to ionizing radiation, and possibly other forms of electromagnetic radiation, changes its electronic properties. Melanized fungal cells manifested increased growth relative to non-melanized cells after exposure to ionizing radiation, raising intriguing questions about a potential role for melanin in energy capture and utilization.

Nepalies have black hairs with a lot of melanin. This guy says that a key is melanin.