Flexible Organic Low-Cost Solar Cell Technology

To address the Air Force need for new technologies for low-cost production of high efficiency flexible photovoltaic (PV) modules, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to advance the development of Flexible Organic Low-Cost Solar (FOLCS) cell technology based on high-mobility transport material and high-quantum-yield photosensitized material structure. A FOLCS cell consists of a composite layer over a conductive flexible substrate, either coated with a transparent electrode or made of metal foil, and encapsulated with a transparent protective layer. Innovations in FOLCS manufacturing technology include: spectral matching design of solar cell structure that shifts absorption to maximize efficiency of solar power conversion; use of high-mobility PV material; and an energy-saving manufacturing process based on low temperature material coating so PV modules can be fabricated on flexible substrates. In Phase I POC demonstrated the feasibility of the FOLCS technology by fabricating and testing prototype flexible photovoltaic cells that could be incorporated into tent fabric as a limited-scale demonstration of the cell concept and manufacturing process. In Phase II we plan to refine the PV module design, build a prototype solar module for Air Force expeditionary units, and develop a draft design for full-scale manufacturing at up to 100 square meters per hour.