(Source: Inhabitat)

Norwegian company Ensol AS and the University of Leicester have developed a spray-on transparent coating of metallic nanoparticles in a composite matrix, which will generate electricity when applied to a suitable substrate, such as windows and rooftops.

Lead researcher Christopher Binns of the University of Leicester said, “The coating would be built into the windows or other materials as part of the manufacturing process. It could even be used on the roofs of cars to charge up batteries — although powering the vehicles themselves would probably be pushing it.”

Ensol reports generation efficiencies of 20 per cent with the coatings, and predicts commercial availability by 2016.

• Solar energy from tinted windows! -- University of Leicester press release