SBIR Phase I: Amplified Electron Generation In Photovoltaic Cells By Means Of Quantum Dot/Dye Combinations

该小型企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目的总体目标是展示太阳能电池的光电转换效率的显着改善。该项目将研究的方法的成功演示，即量子点和染料的组合，将为能量捕获和利用提供新的见解。似乎正在接近5 - 10%范围内的模块效率的上限。尽管这种级别的性能非常有益，并且可以在便携式电源和电池充电方面找到许多有用的应用，（甚至4-5%的模块效率在商业上是可行的），在家庭和办公室中广泛使用光子发电将不会实现，直到效率达到或超过15-20% -该项目的具体目标。虽然电子转换效率作为衡量进展的一个标准，但很明显，这些技术近年来取得了长足的进步。效率在15-20%范围内的低成本太阳能材料具有改变太阳能行业的潜力。相对于传统的重型玻璃面板，柔性轻质材料允许容易地结合到各种产品中，而不会显著增加产品重量，并且还便于大型表面安装。卷对卷制造工艺紧凑且可复制，允许在区域和全球高需求地区附近建立制造设施。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project has as its general objective the demonstration of a significant improvement in light to current conversion efficiency of solar cells. A successful demonstration of the approach that will be investigated in this project, namely, the combination of quantum dots and dyes, will provide new insights into energy capture and utilization. It seems a ceiling in module efficiency in the range of 5 -10% is being approached. Although this level of performance is quite beneficial and will find many useful applications for portable power and battery recharging, (even a module efficiency of 4-5% is commercially viable), widespread use of photovoltaics for power generation in homes and offices will not be realized until the efficiency reaches or exceeds 15-20% - the specific objective of this project.Using photon-to-electron conversion efficiency as one criterion upon which progress can be measured, it is clear that these technologies have made great strides in recent years. Low cost solar material with efficiencies in the 15-20% range has the potential to transform the solar industry. Flexible, lightweight material relative to conventional heavy glass panels allows for easy incorporation into a wide range of products without notably increasing the product weight, and also facilitates large surface installations. Roll-to-roll manufacturing processes are compact and replicable, allowing for manufacturing facilities to be established regionally and near high demand areas worldwide.