SBIR Phase II: Thin Silicon Solar Cells for Aerospace Applications

该奖项的全部或部分资金来自《2021年美国救援计划法案》(公法117-2)。这个小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第二阶段项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力在于提供一种基于超薄硅太阳能电池的新颖、低成本、可扩展和优化的空间太阳能电池板技术。所开发的空间太阳能电池板的成本可能比目前的空间太阳能电池板低得多，并将与自动化大批量制造兼容。这些电池板将满足不断增长的卫星制造业的要求。主要客户包括用于大型卫星星座的卫星制造商和大型航天器制造商，以及为空间、月球和火星探测开发基础设施的航天机构和私营公司。地球上的应用可能包括为长航时无人机(飞机和飞艇)和远程设施提供动力，这些设备需要更紧凑、更轻的太阳能解决方案来满足离网电力系统的需求。这个小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第二阶段项目将为超薄硅太阳能电池开发新的空间稳定和可扩展的封装技术。该项目将开发一个太阳能包层原型，并演示其与超紧凑型太阳能电池板部署系统的集成。该第二阶段项目的具体目标是：(1)建立超薄硅太阳能电池的常规生产，(2)开发薄硅太阳能电池的低应力金属互连，(3)开发薄硅太阳能电池的盖板玻璃替代涂层，(4)展示具有可接受的电池到模块效率损失的迷你毯子，(5)电气和机械集成硅太阳能毯子，以及(6)在进行初步应力测试的同时展示相关尺寸的毯子的展开。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This award is funded in whole or in part under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 117-2). The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is in providing a novel, low-cost, scalable, and optimized-for-use-in-space solar panel technology based on ultrathin silicon solar cells. The developed space solar panels may have substantially lower cost compared to the state-of-practice space solar panels and will be compatible with automated high-volume manufacturing. The panels will meet the requirements of the growing satellite manufacturing industry. The main customers include manufacturers of satellites for large scale satellite constellations and manufacturers of large-size spacecraft, as well as space agencies and private companies developing infrastructure for space, Moon and Mars exploration. Applications on Earth could include powering long-endurance drones (airplanes and airships) and remote facilities that need more compact and lighter weight solar solutions for off-grid power systems.This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will develop novel space-stable and scalable packaging technologies for ultrathin silicon solar cells. The project will develop a prototype solar blanket and demonstrate its integration into ultracompact solar array deployment systems. Specific objectives of this Phase II project are to: (1) establish routine production of ultrathin silicon solar cells, (2) develop low-stress metal interconnects for thin silicon solar cells, (3) develop a cover glass replacement coating for thin silicon solar cells, (4) demonstrate mini-blankets with acceptable cell-to-module efficiency loss, (5) electrically and mechanically integrate silicon solar blanket, and (6) demonstrate deployment of the relevant size blanket while conducting preliminary stress testing.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.