09  Nano Solar Cell Dome

Tobias Putrih
Collaborator: MIT.nano, ONE Lab

An on-going project in collaboration with MIT.nano and ONE Lab is an interdisciplinary exploration of emerging technologies and creative possibilities. The work implements ultra-thin, lightweight, flexible solar cell modules to serve as both a model for modern research and an artistic expression of the material potential. A self-sustaining art piece, the Nano Solar Cell Dome springs to life in  presence of life and gradually collapses in its absence.

The nano solar cell research is being developed by Jeremiah Mwaura and his team at ONE Lab. 15-micron thin solar cell substrate laminated onto an ultra-thin and durable fabric commercially known as Dyneema is a model for flexible and mechanically resilient solar module that can be applied to surfaces and uses where the traditional silicon PV cell cannot. The research continues to work on creating a working prototype outside of the controlled laboratory environment that is stable in exposure to air and water molecules. 

Creating Art, Thinking Science  |  2023 Fall