VANGUARD SPACE TECHNOLOGIES, INC — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: Flexible solar cells based on epitaxial liftoff (ELO) manufacturing processes have enabled
VANGUARD SPACE TECHNOLOGIES, INC — SBIR Phase I award from Department of Defense.
- Amount
- $149,991
- Agency
- Department of Defense · Navy
- Program / Phase
- SBIR · Phase I
- Solicitation
- 2013.3
- NAICS
- —
- Place of performance
- CA
- Period
- 2014-01-23 → 2014-07-23
Description
Flexible solar cells based on epitaxial liftoff (ELO) manufacturing processes have enabled a path towards low-cost and high-power flexible photovoltaic arrays. Lamination techniques incorporating these arrays can be adapted to a variety of end applications ranging from structural power for UAV airfoils to embedded solar power for portable electronics. In this work, Vanguard will demonstrate"Peel and Stick Photovoltaics"(PSPV) utilizing Inverted Lamination techniques incorporating flexible ELO GaAs solar cells as both standalone flexible solar arrays and also as co-cured solar arrays embedded in structural composites. Initial characterization will demonstrate thermal cycling stability and aerodynamic smoothness over a curved composite surface.