UV stable coating for sail-embedded PV power

NASA is seeking advanced thin-film protective coatings for sail-embedded photovoltaic (PV) solar cells. SSS Optical Technologies, LLC (SSSOT) together with Oakwood University and Solestial, Inc. proposes to develop the Polymer Anti-damage Nanocomposite Down-converting Armor (PANDA) coating that uses a polymer nanocomposite impregnated with luminescent nanoparticles (NPs) that absorb solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation and convert it into visible light suitable for PV cells. There are three innovations: (1) By absorbing solar UV PANDA improves UV stability of the solar cell; (2) PANDA combines UV shielding with the use of UV, otherwise wasted, in production of extra electricity; (3) PANDA shields the cell from high-energy cosmic radiation. During Phase I project we evaluated the feasibility of PANDA using three types of solar cells: silicon heterojunction (SHJ) from Solestial, Inc., Copper-Indium-Gallium-Selenide (CIGS) and inverted metamorphic multijunction (IMM). The cells are considered as candidates for space applications due to their light weight and flexibility. Major results of Phase I project are: (1) PANDA coating improved the conversion efficiency of the cells by up to 5%; (2) for all three types of cells PANDA UV stability; (3) computer simulations indicated that 20-micron-thick PANDA can fully shield the solar cells from 1-MeV protons reducing radiation damage by a factor of 4. The overall goals of the Phase II effort will be (1) to optimize PANDA coating (composition, structure, and application methods) and obtain maximal conversion efficiency and operational lifetime of the coated solar cells; (2) to verify experimentally PANDAs ability to improve radiation tolerance of the coated solar cells. TRL level 5 is expected by the end of Phase II. Deliverables will include experimental data, test reports, and final technical report. NASA is seeking advanced thin-film protective coatings for sail-embedded photovoltaic (PV) solar cells. SSS Optical Technologies, LLC (SSSOT) together with Oakwood University and Solestial, Inc. proposes to develop the Polymer Anti-damage Nanocomposite Down-converting Armor (PANDA) coating that uses a polymer nanocomposite impregnated with luminescent nanoparticles (NPs) that absorb solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation and convert it into visible light suitable for PV cells. There are three innovations: (1) By absorbing solar UV PANDA improves UV stability of the solar cell; (2) PANDA combines UV shielding with the use of UV, otherwise wasted, in production of extra electricity; (3) PANDA shields the cell from high-energy cosmic radiation. Figure illustrates PANDA operation: it absorbs UV and converts into visible light that generates extra electricity and blocks cosmic rays. PANDA coating will increase the Beginning-of-Life (BOL) power conversion efficiency of the sail-embedded solar cells by up to 5% and the end-of-Life (EOL) efficiency by 30%. This project has two main objectives reaching beyond the scope of Phase I: (1) Optimize polymer nanocomposite PANDA coating to improve UV stability of the coated solar cells and to improve the power conversion efficiency of the solar cells. (2) Ensure PANDA provides radiation tolerance of the coated solar cells during the life of the mission. Specific objectives of the proposed Phase II project are the following: (1) Optimize nanoparticles (NPs) to increase quantum efficiency of photoluminescence. (2) Optimize PANDA coating to improve UV stability and power conversion efficiency. (3) Optimize coating process to achieve uniform PANDA coating of optical quality. (4) Conduct statistically significant testing to statistically substantiate UV stability and conversion efficiency improvements. (5)  Enable radiation tolerance of the PANDA-coated solar cells. (6) Analyze experimental data, provide reports, and commercialize the technology developed. Deliverables for this project include: (1) Kickoff meeting within 30 days of contract start; (2) Progress reports; (3) Technical review within 12 months and (4) Final technical report.

If successful, the proposed technology can be implemented as “UV stable thin-film protective coating for sail-embedded power-generation…” requested within Scope “Next-Generation Solar Sail System Technologies for Enhanced and Enabling Sailing” of topic T5.05 “Advanced Solar Sailing Technologies”, Focus Area 5 “Communications and Navigation” of NASA FY 2022 STTR Solicitation.  Major potential non-NASA applications of PANDA technology in the government and commercial sectors is the improvement of the efficiency of solar PV panels while protecting them from harmful UV radiation of the Sun and increasing their lifetime.The customers would be national grids and rural communities, and municipalities and private entities concerned with surveillance.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 4) — 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.

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