EFFICIENT PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS BASED ON CHEMICALLY MODIFIED TITANIUM DIOXIDE AND HIGHLY ORDERED CdSe QUANTUM DOTS

The U.S. Army has placed a strong emphasis to improve the efficiency and durability of photovoltaic (PV) cells with reduced cost of manufacturing. Current single-crystal technology can cost over $300/W at the array level and weigh more than 1kg/m2. A key challenge is to increase the solar to electrical conversion efficiency in quantum dot-based PV cells from the current state (~5%) to efficiencies exceeding 15-30%. The Principal Investigator has substantial expertise in developing layered nanostructure for photovoltaic cells. Our institutional partner is an eminent researcher in developing microwave-assisted, highly ordered nanocrystalline quantum dots for photovoltaic applications. By combining these complementary expertises, InnoSense LLC (ISL) will design, develop and demonstrate quantum dot-based photovoltaic (PV) cells to support the Army mission. The Phase I project will demonstrate feasibility of low-cost manufacturing of such solar cells. The Phase II project will develop prototype solar cells and deliver them to the Army for additional evaluation. For inserting this technology into the Army procurement system, ISL has received a strong endorsement letter from a Los Angeles Corporation that is a joint venture of a leading manufacturer of photovoltaic panels.