AMBERWAVE INC — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: A17-074
AMBERWAVE INC — SBIR Phase I award from Department of Defense.
- Amount
- $147,833
- Agency
- Department of Defense · Army
- Program / Phase
- SBIR · Phase I
- Topic
- A17-074
- Solicitation
- 17.1
- NAICS
- —
- Place of performance
- NH
- Period
- 2017-06-23 → 2019-02-04
Description
AmberWave, Inc. has developed a method to laminate an ultra-thin (18 microns) monocrystalline Si layer to a conductive and fracture-resistant supporting layer such as a thin steel alloy foil. With this UTSi (Ultra-Thin Si) technology we have integrated front and rear cell processes based on the world-record PERL (Passivated Emitter Rear Locally diffused) silicon solar cell design, and have demonstrated efficiency of nearly 17% . Under the proposed SBIR Phase I project we will integrate a periodic array of metallic nanophotonic light trapping structures into the rear of our solar cell, to demonstrate enhanced light trapping in a 10 micron Si absorber layer. Phase I targets will be to demonstrate at least 12 watts/square foot, and 50 watts/pound, for unencapsulated UTSi solar cells with area of at least 2.5 square inches. In addition we will show a pathway to solar blankets capable of 16 watts/square foot and over 35 watts/pound, utilizing our UTSi solar cells with nanophotonic light trapping.