NASA STTR 2006 Solicitation
FORM B - PROPOSAL SUMMARY
PROPOSAL NUMBER: |
06-2 T3.01-9844 |
PHASE 1 CONTRACT NUMBER: |
NNC07QA82P |
RESEARCH SUBTOPIC TITLE: |
Space Power and Propulsion |
PROPOSAL TITLE: |
InN-Based Quantum Dot Solar Cells |
SMALL BUSINESS CONCERN (SBC): |
RESEARCH INSTITUTION (RI):
|
NAME: |
Kopin Corporation |
NAME: |
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State
University |
STREET: |
200 John Hancock Road |
STREET: |
1880 Pratt Drive, Suite 2006 |
CITY: |
Taunton |
CITY: |
Blacksburg |
STATE/ZIP: |
MA 02780 - 7320 |
STATE/ZIP: |
VA 24060 - 3325 |
PHONE: |
(508) 824-6696 |
PHONE: |
(540) 231-5281 |
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR/PROJECT MANAGER (Name,
E-mail, Mail Address, City/State/Zip, Phone) Roger E
Welser rwelser@kopin.com 200 John Hancock Road Taunton, MA 02780
- 7320 (508) 824-6696
Expected Technology Readiness Level (TRL) upon completion of
contract:
TECHNICAL ABSTRACT (Limit 2000 characters, approximately 200
words) The goal of this STTR program is to employ nanostructured
materials in an advanced device design to enhance the tolerance of solar
cells to extreme environments while maintaining high solar electric power
conversion efficiency. By using InN-based quantum dots embedded within a
higher band gap GaN barrier material, a larger fraction of the solar
spectrum can be harnessed while minimizing the effects of high
temperatures and high-energy radiation with this promising photovoltaic
device. The wide range of energies accessible to InN-based materials
provides unique flexibility in designing quantum dot solar cell
structures. Phase I work demonstrated the feasibility of synthesizing
device quality InN-based quantum dots. InN quantum dot assemblies were
grown on GaN templates via metalorganic chemical vapor deposition and
exhibited well defined x-ray diffraction peaks with dot densities up to
1E10 cm-2. More importantly, strong room temperature photoluminescence has
been observed, with peak emission energies ranging from the infrared to
the ultraviolet. These promising optical properties suggest it will be
possible to build structures incorporating InN quantum dots within a GaN
p-n junction to test the basic concepts of quantum dot solar cells during
the Phase II effort. The principal Phase II objective is to develop an
InN-based quantum dot solar cell capable of high performance in near-sun
and extreme radiation environments. Ultimately our approach provides a
pathway for realizing solar cells with over 2,000 W/kg of specific power
and power conversion efficiency approaching 60%.
POTENTIAL NASA COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS (Limit 1500 characters,
approximately 150 words) Future space exploration missions will
require photovoltaic power systems capable of operating in harsh
environments with high temperature and extreme radiation exposures. III-V
nitrides are extraordinarily robust materials that are being vigorously
developed for short optical wavelength and high RF power applications. The
objective of this STTR program is to build a solar cell using III-V
nitride materials that matches the conversion efficiency of conventional
technologies while providing enhanced radiation resistance and high
temperature operation capabilities. The technology developed during this
program is expected to have immediate market opportunities for NASA
exploratory spacecraft power, particularly for near-sun missions.
POTENTIAL NON-NASA COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS (Limit 1500
characters, approximately 150 words) The STTR project described here
is part of a larger effort to address the terrestrial renewable energy
market by realizing the ultimate objective of third generation
photovoltaics, namely ultra-high conversion efficiency at low costs.
InN-based quantum dot solar cells offer the potential of achieving
conversion efficiencies approaching 60% with a single p-n junction device.
Moreover, existing technologies reasonably suggest these ultra-high
efficiency devices could be grown on silicon substrates to minimize
material costs. Even lower manufacturing costs and improved performance
can be accomplished by inserting these devices into a concentrator system.
By combining high performance devices with a manufacturable plastic
micro-concentrator module design, we are developing a solar electric
technology that will enable unique spacecraft power generation
capabilities and accelerate the adoption of photovoltaics into the
renewable energy market.
NASA's technology taxonomy has been developed by the SBIR-STTR program
to disseminate awareness of proposed and awarded R/R&D in the agency.
It is a listing of over 100 technologies, sorted into broad categories, of
interest to NASA.
TECHNOLOGY TAXONOMY MAPPING |
Optical & Photonic
Materials Photonics Photovoltaic Conversion Renewable
Energy Semi-Conductors/Solid State Device
Materials Solar
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Form Generated on 01-28-08 15:27
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