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posted by cmn32480 on Monday July 20 2015, @12:07AM   Printer-friendly
from the elon-musk-will-want-his-tech dept.

Dmitry Lopatin, a 26-year-old scientist who invented a cheap new kind of solar battery, has come across an unexpected obstacle. He was slapped with a three-year suspended jail sentence, for using banned materials in his invention. The researcher was facing 11 years behind bars, but the prosecutor's office dealing with the case agreed that a suspended sentence would suffice, the TASS news agency reported.

From rt.com:

Lopatin got in trouble with the authorities for using a solvent called gamma-Butyrolactone in order to make his solar batteries. It turned out this was a banned substance in Russia. He had placed a mail order for the solvent from China, and he was arrested when he went to collect it from the post office in June.

The researcher had tried to use a different substance, but found that it was too toxic to work with.

"In my work I was using a solvent which is toxic and can cause cancer. That is why I tried to find a substitute. I found one via the Internet and ordered it," he told RT.

"A month and a half later the parcel reached customs and I was called in and detained. Police launched a criminal case against me and I was interrogated. There were several court hearings. I chose to order from China because of the strict laws there. I had no idea that in China I could order a solvent which is banned in Russia."

Given that he is a researcher, is the use of the banned substance reasonable?


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  • (Score: 4, Funny) by penguinoid on Monday July 20 2015, @04:33AM

    by penguinoid (5331) on Monday July 20 2015, @04:33AM (#211280)

    In Soviet Russia, battery charges YOU!

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  • (Score: 2) by Kell on Monday July 20 2015, @08:26AM

    by Kell (292) on Monday July 20 2015, @08:26AM (#211334)

    Ahhh, Soviet Russia jokes. It's like we never left the green site.

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    Scientists ask questions. Engineers solve problems.
    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday July 20 2015, @09:19AM

      by Anonymous Coward on Monday July 20 2015, @09:19AM (#211344)

      In Soviet Russia, the green site left you.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday July 20 2015, @03:39PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Monday July 20 2015, @03:39PM (#211461)

      Colour is the one discernible difference between the two sites. That and fewer "fuck beta" threads...

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday July 20 2015, @10:21AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday July 20 2015, @10:21AM (#211361)
    In USA you research what to put in Solar cells.
    In Russia solar research puts you in cells.
    In Russia Putin cells you.