High specific power flexible integrated IMM photovoltaic blanket

Originally designed for space applications, multi-junction solar cells have a high overall power conversion efficiency (>30%) which compares favorably to amorphous silicon, CIGS and bulk heterojunction photovoltaic devices which are limited to <10%. Recent advances in manufacturing of Inverted Metamorphic Multi-junction (IMM) solar cells have opened new opportunities to greatly improve the specific power of the devices by means of removal of the epitaxial substrate. To date, flexible high efficiency IMMs have been fabricated and demonstrated in the framework of a space cell with IMMs released from the epitaxial substrate onto traditional coverglass. An increasing larger body of research is aimed at populating large area "blankets" with IMMs and this has led to a number of approaches that includes removal of rigid epitaxy growth substrates and adherence to lightweight flexible webs or polymer films. So far, there is no economic and fast approach to efficiently remove the growth substrate. Nanohmics proposes to develop a non-destructive approach for transfer of IMM solar devices from rigid growth substrates into flexible high specific power solar cell blankets. The method will enable integration of state-of-the-art photovoltaics into a large area conformal "blanket" for space applications. The proposed effort will include development of a novel sacrificial intermediate layer on which high efficiency IMM photovoltaics are epitaxially deposited.

Nanohmics has targeted a method for generating hybrid inorganic cell/polymeric films using a low-cost continuous web process that will impact solar cell markets by providing a compelling advantage for increasing the specific power of the devices (W/kg) and the much lower production cost per unit area ($/W/m2). Specific power is a key figure of merit for applications such as spaceborne and high altitude power devices that have extremely tight total mass budgets (~ $10,000/ launched lb.) Coupled with the proposed low-cost, continuous-web method, both spaceflight and terrestrial-based markets will expand with the proposed novel technology

In the global solar cell industry, the formation of efficient IMM cells with power conversion efficiencies greater than ~ 25% will enable cost-effective wide spread adoption of alternative solar power photovoltaics. These devices will have promise in a number of markets outside NASA and military space asset applications including: ¿ Passive energy scavenging for portable electronics ¿ Tarps, tents, awnings and other conformal shelters ¿ Apparel (athletic wear, military uniforms, electrotextiles) ¿ Marine covers, seat covers including ship sails ¿ Radiation hardened intrinsic materials will be enablde for flexible space applications where high specific power and low stowed volume that can be expanded into large area collectors. ¿ Flexible solar collectors that are impact resistant

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