Award Data

AstroPower is developing a two-junction monolithic tandem solar cell composed of (AlxGa1-x)0.51In.49P lattice matched to GaAs for use as the top cell in a three-junction, two-terminal tandem stack. This tunable bandgap material system is capable of current matching, at 2.03eV, in a two-junction monolithic tandem solar cell two terminal design of (AlxGa1-x)0.51In0.49P/GaAs yielding a best case pred ...

ASTROPOWER IS PROPOSING THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ULTRA-LIGHTWEIGHT, HIGH PERFORMANCE, THIN LIGHT TRAPPING GAAS SOLAR CELL FOR ADVANCED SPACE POWER SYSTEMS. A THIN DEVICE LEADS TO HIGHER PERFORMANCE IN TERMS OF OPEN CIRCUIT VOLTAGE, RADIATION RESISTANCE, AND SPECIFIC POWER. IN A THIN DEVICE, THE INCORPORATION OF LIGHT TRAPPING TO EXTEND THE OPTICAL PATH LENGTH PERMITS GREATER CURRENT GENERATIC THAN CA ...

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and Raman spectroscopy are developing rapidly for chemical and biochemical sensing applications. There is an urgent need for high-sensitivity detectors so as to minimize sample quantity and maximize detection range from the source. In most field-deployable spectrometers, a photo-detector array is used for analyzing the spectral contents. The sensitivitie ...

The objective of this work is to develop ATR algorithms that use the spectropolarimetric information in multi-discriminant ladar images to segment, detect and identify hidden targets. Hidden targets using camouflage, concealment and deception are difficult to detect with standard weapons sensors including basic ladar systems. A multi-discriminant ladar having polarized, multi-spectral, and multi ...

A DISPERSION AND COMPOSITE STRENGTHENING APPROACH INCORPORATING THE BENEFITS OF RAPID SOLIDIFICATION AND IN-SITU COMPOSITE FORMATION IS PROPOSED FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF CREEP AND FATIGUE RESISTANT HIGH STRENGTH SOLDER ALLOYS AND COMPOSITES FOR ELECTRONICS PACKAGING APPLICATIONS . THE GOAL OF PHASE I OF THE PROGRAM IS TO DEMONSTRATE THE FEASIBILITY OF PRODUCING BY INDUCTION MELTING AND INERT GAS ATO ...

CERAMICS HAVE BEEN SHOWN TO BE VERY EFFECTIVE IN THE DEFEAT OF A WIDE RANGE OF KINETIC ENERGY (KE) THREATS. HOWEVER, THE USE OF CERAMICS IN ARMORED VEHICLES HAS BEEN LIMITED DUE IN MOST PART TO THEIR HIGH COST. CERAMIC PARTICULATE REINFORCED METAL MATRIX COMPOSITES (MMCS) PRODUCED BY PRESSURELESS LIQUID METAL INFILTRATION ARE INEXPENSIVE RELATIVE TO MONOLITHIC CERAMICS DUE TO THE LOWER COST OF THE ...

The primary objective of the Phase II research and development is to scale-up the production of components of nanoengineered thermites (or, nanothermites) in pound quantities in a safe manner. In Phase I, we have achieved the proof-of-concepts for the synthesis of several nanoscale oxides, assembly and physical mixing with the nanofuel, various coating processes and tuning the properties with expl ...

Current riverine craft are built in aluminum. Although aluminum is an obvious candidate material for a riverine operating environment, innovative solutions that deliver structural weight reduction to enable higher speeds, greater payload and increased survivability are always desired. Advanced lightweight composite structural armor concepts, comprised of hybrid fiber reinforced materials, grade ...

Based on multiple technology platforms and theoretical analyses, in the Phase I program we have demonstrated the feasibility that RF polymers with desirable high frequency properties can be achieved. Following Edison¡¯s model of product and process development for technology innovations, Phase-II will pursue further incremental improvement in material properties upon the concept-proving materi ...

IN THE TREATMENT OF THE DYNAMIC PROBLEMS OF STRUCTURES, TWO ALTERNATE TESTING METHODS, BASED ON EXTERNAL AND EMBEDDED SENSORS, EXIST IN THE LITERATURE. IF THE SENSORS RESPOND TO THE CHANGES IN THE DYNAMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE STRUCTURE, AND/OR THE ENVIRONMENT, THEN THEY ARE REFERRED TO "SMART" STRUCTURES. SMART SENSORS AND SMART MATERIALS HAVE BEEN USED FOR DETECTING STRUCTURAL DAMAGES AND/OR CO ...