Nanostructured electrodes for Solar Power Generation, Phase I

The key to achieving high-power solar arrays for NASA applications is the development of high-efficiency, thin-film solar cells that can be fabricated directly on flexible, lightweight, polymer/plastic substrates. Current thin-film cell fabrication approaches are limited by either the ultimate efficiency that can be achieved with the device material and structure or the requirement for high-temperature deposition processes, especially of the transparent conducting electrode, which are incompatible with all presently known flexible polyimide or other polymer substrate materials. In this proposed R&D effort Materials Modification, Inc. will develop a novel, low-temperature and cost-effective technique for the preparation of nanostructured thin films of a transparent conducting oxide, for use as electrodes in Plastic solar cells.. In addition, a prototype plastic Heterojunction solar cell will be fabricated with this nanostructured material as an electrode instead of the conventional ITO, and the superiority of this system will be established

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

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.