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Nanowire Photovoltaic Devices

Award Information
Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Branch: N/A
Contract: NNX10CF61P
Agency Tracking Number: 090028
Amount: $99,887.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: STTR
Solicitation Topic Code: T3
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: N/A
Award Year: 2010
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): N/A
Award End Date (Contract End Date): N/A
Small Business Information
2082 Hackberry Lane
Shakopee, MN 55379
United States
DUNS: 828188347
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 David Forbes
 Principal Investigator
 (608) 698-0935
 dvfsps@rit.edu
Business Contact
 Michael Nesnidal
Title: Chief Technical Officer
Phone: (608) 698-0935
Research Institution
 Rochester Institute of Technology
 
One Lomb Memorial Drive
Rochester, NY 14623
United States

 (585) 475-2480
 Nonprofit College or University
Abstract

Firefly, in collaboration with Rochester Institute of Technology, proposes an STTR program for the development of a space solar cell having record efficiency exceeding 40% (AM0) by the introduction of nanowires within the active region of the current limiting sub-cell. The introduction of these nanoscale features will enable realization of an intermediate band solar cell (IBSC), while simultaneously increasing the effective absorption volume that can otherwise limit short circuit current generated by thin quantized layers. The triple junction cell follows conventional designs comprised of bottom Ge cell (0.67eV), a current-limiting middle GaAs (1.43eV) cell, and a top InGaP (1.90eV) cell. The GaAs cell will be modified to contain InAs nanowires to enable an IBSC, which is predicted to demonstrate ~45% efficiency under 1-sun AM0 conditions. The InAs nanowires will be implemented in-situ within the epitaxy environment which is a significant innovation relative to conventional semiconductor nanowire generation using ex-situ gold nanoparticles. Successful completion of the proposed work will result in ultra-high efficiency, radiation-tolerant space solar cells that are compatible with existing manufacturing processes. Significant cost savings are expected with higher efficiency cells which enables increased payload capability and longer mission durations.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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