SOLESTIAL, INC. — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: AF181-040
SOLESTIAL, INC. — SBIR Phase I award from Department of Defense.
Phase I SBIR feasibility signal
- Phase I awards fund proof-of-concept work. For capture teams, they mark early interest from Department of Defense in a technical approach.
- Watch for Phase II follow-ons from the same firm/topic family — that conversion path is where budgets and transition pressure rise.
- Obligated amount $149,997. Cross-check similar awards in the same agency and technology tags for going-rate context.
- Topic code AF181-040 links this award to a solicitation family — search the same topic stem for incumbents and recompete timing.
- Amount
- $149,997
- Agency
- Department of Defense · Air Force
- Program / Phase
- SBIR · Phase I
- Topic
- AF181-040
- Solicitation
- 2018.1
- NAICS
- —
- Place of performance
- AZ
- Period
- 2018-08-28 → 2019-08-28
Description
Reducing degradation of solar arrays is critically important for Orbital Transfer Elements (OTE). Currently used III-V solar cells suffer from radiation induced degradation.In this project we propose novel ultrathin bifacial silicon solar cells for OTE, which are rad-hard, enabling low degradation, and reducing the cost both in $/W and $/kg by a factor of 10 compared to III-V cells.Ultrathin bifacial silicon solar cells can deliver 28% cumulative efficiency, comparable to best-in-class III-V tandems. Ultrathin cells have necessary flexibility for solar arrays ROSA, Megaflex. This project will investigate and improve the radiation hardness of the ultrathin cell technology for the OTE/Van Allen belts radiation environment.Phase I will investigate and mitigate degradation mechanisms of silicon cells under electrons irradiation, develop cell design to achieve <20% degradation for OTE environment. The solar cells will be fabricated and characterized pre- and post-electron irradiation. The collaboration with SolAero Technologies will ensure industrial quality technology, characterization and testing.In Phase II, solar cell prototypes will be fabricated/integrated into mini-arrays for extensive reliability and radiation hardness testing to be suitable for OTE. The target parameters of the array will be achieved and a manufacturing technology for ultrathin bifacial silicon solar cells will be finalized.