STTR Phase II: Low-cost Nanostructured Anti-reflection Coatings for Solar Energy Applications

STTR 第二阶段：用于太阳能应用的低成本纳米结构抗反射涂层

• 批准号: 1230456
• 负责人: Paul Ahrens
• 金额: $ 49.9万
• 依托单位: CSD Nano, Inc.
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2012-08-15 至 2016-11-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1230456&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: STTR; Phase; II; Low; cost

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project proposes to optimize and demonstrate the scale-up of nanostructured anti-reflective coatings (ARCs) to meet the specifications of solar energy customers using high-performance processes along with a novel solution-phase synthesis and deposition microreactor. Results from Phase I and industrial partner input demonstrate that the nanostructured ARC has an optical performance that far exceeds existing industry solutions, with a low reflectance across a broad wavelength spectrum. The intellectual merits are not limited to a single discovery, but a series of breakthroughs will will allow this low-cost, industry-compatible ARC solution to satisfy the solar industry's need for increasing efficiency. This is accomplished by leveraging the nanostructure's properties of incremental change in the refractive index as light waves pass through the coating structure (i.e. gradient surfaces) and an environmentally benign, low-cost microreactor technology that can be integrated with existing industry processes.The broader impact/commercial potential of this project concerns an enabling competitive advantage for glass and solar module manufacturers, which will also drive government initiatives for low-cost solar energy. The anti-reflective coating being developed focuses on increasing solar module efficiency by providing a low-cost method to reduce light reflection from solar modules. The International Technology Roadmap for PV (ITRPV) calls for a reduction in front-side module reflection from 4% to 2% in 2013 and reduction from 2% to 0.5% by 2017. The proposed ARC can reduce front surface reflection from 4% (bare glass) to less than 0.5%, beating the ITRPV roadmap by five years. The increase in light reaching the solar cells will enhance electricity output and decrease balance-of-system (BOS) costs. This performance and cost advantage creates significant commercial opportunities in the solar module value chain. This innovation has the potential to capitalize on the estimated 2011 $4.6 billion thin-film photovoltaic (PV) market, for which production is expected to grow at a 30% annual rate through 2016.

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第二阶段项目建议优化和展示纳米结构抗反射涂层（ARC）的规模扩大，以满足太阳能客户使用高性能工艺沿着新型溶液相合成和沉积微反应器的规格。 来自第一阶段和工业合作伙伴投入的结果表明，纳米结构ARC的光学性能远远超过现有的工业解决方案，在宽波长光谱范围内具有低反射率。其智力价值并不局限于一个单一的发现，而是一系列的突破将使这种低成本、行业兼容的ARC解决方案能够满足太阳能行业对提高效率的需求。 这是通过利用纳米结构在光波通过涂层结构时折射率增量变化的特性来实现的（即梯度表面）和环境友好的低成本微反应器技术，可以与现有的工业过程相结合。该项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力涉及玻璃和太阳能组件制造商的竞争优势，这也将推动政府对低成本太阳能的倡议。 正在开发的抗反射涂层的重点是通过提供一种低成本的方法来减少太阳能模块的光反射，从而提高太阳能模块的效率。 国际光伏技术路线图（ITRPV）要求在2013年将正面组件反射率从4%降低到2%，到2017年从2%降低到0.5%。拟议的ARC可以将前表面反射从4%（裸玻璃）降低到0.5%以下，比ITRPV路线图提前五年。 到达太阳能电池的光的增加将提高电力输出并降低系统平衡（BOS）成本。这种性能和成本优势在太阳能组件价值链中创造了巨大的商业机会。这一创新有可能利用2011年估计为46亿美元的薄膜光伏（PV）市场，预计到2016年，该市场的产量将以每年30%的速度增长。