It is an exciting time in solar energy for materials scientists. Dye sensitized solar cells are narrowing the efficiency gap, carbon solar cells have become a reality and transparent solar cells are becoming practical. Despite these developments there is still significant room for third generation solar cell technology to improve. In order to understand where solar research is heading, we need to explore where it started and how it works. This article will present recent breakthroughs in transparent solar cells in their historical context and explain the basics of this promising technology.
