SBIR Phase II: Thin Silicon Solar Cells for Aerospace Applications

该奖项全部或部分根据2021年美国救援计划法案（公法117-2）资助。这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第二阶段项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力是提供一种基于单晶硅太阳能电池的新型、低成本、可扩展和优化的太空太阳能电池板技术。所开发的空间太阳能电池板的成本可能大大低于实践中的空间太阳能电池板，并将与自动化大批量制造相兼容。 这些面板将满足日益增长的卫星制造业的要求。主要客户包括大型卫星星座的卫星制造商和大型航天器制造商，以及空间机构和开发太空，月球和火星探索基础设施的私营公司。在地球上的应用可能包括为长航时无人机（飞机和飞艇）和偏远设施提供动力，这些设施需要更紧凑和更轻的离网电力系统太阳能解决方案。这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第二阶段项目将为单晶硅太阳能电池开发新颖的空间稳定和可扩展的封装技术。 该项目将开发一个原型太阳能毯，并展示其集成到超紧凑太阳能阵列部署系统。 第二阶段项目的具体目标是：（1）建立单晶硅太阳能电池常规生产，（2）开发用于薄硅太阳能电池的低应力金属互连，（3）开发用于薄硅太阳能电池的覆盖玻璃替代涂层，（4）展示具有可接受的电池到模块效率损失的微型覆盖层，（5）电和机械集成硅太阳能覆盖层，以及（6）在进行初步压力测试时演示相关尺寸的毯子的部署。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估而被认为值得支持。

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.