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Radiation Tolerant >35% Efficient Phosphide-Based Multi-Junction Solar Cells with Epitaxial Lift-Off
Completed
TRL 6 (started at 4, targeting 6)
Description
This proposal describes a one-year enhancement to our Phase II program to develop phosphide-based ELO-IMM two-junction (2J) and four-junction (4J) solar cells that will enhance the performance and capabilities of solar photovoltaic arrays for a variety of future scientific and deep-space NASA missions. The proposed solar cells are particularly well-suited for missions that utilize solar electric propulsion or missions involving severe radiation exposure.
Benefits
Large solar arrays for solar-electric propulsion. Solar arrays for high radiation missions.
Commercial and military satellite power systems. Solar-powered high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Thermal Photovoltaics. Beamed power recievers.
Details
| Technology area | Aerospace Power and Energy Storage > Power Generation and Energy Conversion > Photovoltaic Electrical Power |
| Program | Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Tech Transfer (SBIR/STTR) |
| Lead organization | MicroLink Devices, Inc., Niles, IL |
| Start date | 2020-06-12 |
| End date | 2021-06-12 |
Project contacts
Listed on TechPort itself — the most direct way to ask about this specific project.
How to get involved
This is early/mid-stage (TRL 6) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.
None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.