Researchers have successfully been able to develop solar cells from natural substrates from trees by manufacturing the cell on cellulose nanocrystal material, which is derived from plants. Organic solar cells were usually created on either glass or plastic, both of which are recyclable, but not nearly as much as this new invention made from raw materials. Other cells built on petroleum-based substrates are not good for the environment and hard to dispose of at the end of their life. These new cells, however, created on the cellulose material are very easily recycled, green, renewable, and durable. At the end of its lifecycle, the solar cell can be placed in water, and after only a few minutes, the substrate dissolves and the rest of the cell can be separated. This has been a major development in the solar technology industry, and now the next step is to hopefully increase the power conversion efficiency of the cells from 2.7% to about 10%.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/03/130326111958.htm
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