New publications
China has developed a new type of flexible panels on a self-adhesive basis
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Xiaolin Zheng and her research team decided to create solar panels with a self-adhesive base.
Xiaolin was inspired to create completely new solar panels by her father, who once remarked that it would be good to use not only the roof, but the entire surface of the building to obtain solar energy (currently, most buildings in China have panels installed on the roofs to obtain energy).
Zheng's research team has developed a technology that makes it possible to create thin, flexible, and self-adhesive panels for converting solar energy. The invention is a small sticker that, according to the authors, will be able to power almost everything, from houses to airplanes.
As Xiaolin herself explained, such a panel can be used in a variety of ways, and the young specialist hopes that her idea will help make solar energy practical and accessible.
In 2010, Zheng read a paper that reminded her once again of the idea of harvesting solar energy from any building surface. The project Xiaolin read described an experiment with graphene and nickel (graphene was grown in a layer of nickel on a silicon wafer, and after the wafer was immersed in water, the nickel and graphene were separated from it). This experiment gave the young engineer the idea of creating a thin and flexible plate that could stick to any surface.
Standard thin film solar cells are produced on wafers of silicon or glass, which makes them rigid, heavy, and limits where they can be used.
Using a plastic or paper base makes the solar panel more flexible, but such panels are not able to withstand high temperatures and are destroyed by chemicals.
During their work, Zheng's team used glass or silicone for the base of the panels. A metal layer was inserted between the top layer and the base. After several unsuccessful attempts, the team was able to separate the metal from the top layer by soaking it.
As a result, the team of developers created an active solar panel with a thickness of approximately 1/10 of polyethylene film. The specialists were able to create a flexible material that can be attached to any surface (roof, window, telephone, column, etc.).
The new flexible panel produces the same amount of electricity as a rigid one, and also has economic advantages (reduced production costs, low cost).
In standard solar panel manufacturing, the base layer costs 25% of the total cost. With Zheng's new method, the base layer will be made from a cheaper material or will be replaced with an existing one, such as a window on which the light-sensitive element will be attached.
Zheng noted that even after use, the silicon wafers remain shiny and clean and can be used again and again, saving money. For the same reason, self-adhesive solar panels are easy to install.
[ 1 ]