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Low-Cost Enamel Coatings on Stainless Steel Foil for Thin Film Photovoltaics

Award Information

Agency:
Department of Defense 		Branch:
Air Force 		Award ID:
57490 		Program Year/Program:
2002 / SBIR
Agency Tracking Number:
021NM-0848 		Solicitation Year:
N/A 		Solicitation Topic Code:
N/A 		Solicitation Number:
N/A
Small Business Information
SOMMER MATERIALS RESEARCH, INC.
587 North Main Street North Salt Lake, UT 84054-2101
View profile »
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No
 
Phase 1
Fiscal Year: 2002
Title: Low-Cost Enamel Coatings on Stainless Steel Foil for Thin Film Photovoltaics
Agency / Branch: DOD / USAF
Contract: F29601-02-C-0081
Award Amount: $99,951.00
 

Abstract:

"High-efficiency photovoltaic cells fabricated from copper-indium-gallium-diselenide (CIGS) technology are important for the generation of low-cost electrical energy. Greater cost benefits could be realized if photovoltaic films could be fabricated onflexible metal foils using a roll-to-roll manufacturing process. A thin insulative layer is required to separate the CIGS film from the metal foil. This insulative coating should exhibit excellent adhesion to the metal substrate and be compatible withthe CIGS and metal substrate layer, both thermophysically and chemically. An inexpensive method of applying this coating over large areas without surface defects is also needed. Sommer Materials Research (SMR) proposes to apply thin pinhole-free enamelcoatings to stainless steel foil for CIGS solar cells. Air spraying and electrophoretic deposition will be used to obtain thin uniform coatings. The enamel coatings will exhibit excellent flexibility and be compatible with CIGS processing conditions.The electrically insulative coating will also show high bond strength, a high use temperature, and a compatible thermal expansion coefficient to the CIGS layer and metal foil. Thin enamel coatings on metals have a proven track record commercially and maybe the key for producing inexpensive high-efficiency solar cells for military, aerospace, and commercial use. The enameled foils will exhibit high flexibility and compatibility, allowing roll-

Principal Investigator:

Jared L. Sommer
President
8016315500
jsommer@alum.mit.edu

Business Contact:

Jared L. Sommer
President
8016315500
jsommer@alum.mit.edu
Small Business Information at Submission:

Sommer Materials Research
640 North Main Suite G North Salt Lake, UT 84054

EIN/Tax ID:
DUNS: N/A
Number of Employees:
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No