Solar cells made from graphene are causing huge excitement within the solar energy industry, with the prospect of cheaper, more durable and more efficient solar panels.

Modern solar panels are primarily made from silicon which has been highly purified, converted into a crystal and then cut into a thin layer. This expensive process is a serious inhibitor to the cost effectiveness of solar panels for the everyday consumer. Alternatives such as indium tin oxide have proven popular, but the cost of indium means that such panels are only an incremental improvement.

The latest research into low cost solar cells involves using graphene as an electrode, combined with carbon nanotubes and C60 carbon to produce a carbon only solar panel that avoids the complicated manufacturing process and high cost raw materials needed for more traditional panels.