Organized Hole Conducting Polymer/Nanoparticle Composite Solar Cell Fiber, Phase I

Recent innovations in noncrystalline solar cells are beginning to emerge as viable replacements to traditional CVD grown single crystal counterparts in applications that demand high specific power, low product cost ($/sq.ft.) and ultimately scalable unit energy cost ($/W). Future NASA missions stand poised for adopting these new photovoltaics systems that are deposited onto lightweight, flexible substrates. Nanohmics proposes to fabricate a heterojunction solar cell composite consisting of high weight fraction titanium dioxide nanoparticles blended with amphiphilic, regioregular conducting polythiophene that are highly organized at an air-water interface. Furthermore, Nanohmics is proposing to prepare a novel device geometry that involves a low-cost, co-axial deposition process of all the cell layers onto core metal (e.g. copper, aluminum) or metal-coated fibers. Deposition of the blocking layers, heterojunction phase, and transparent conducting electrode in this fashion will lead to individual solar cell "threads", SuntwineTM.

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.