Thin Onboard Power Storage for Photovoltaics (TOPS-PV)

Thin Onboard Power Storage for Photovoltaics (TOPS-PV) is a concept where a thin, flexible battery is placed onto a thin, flexible photovoltaic device, thereby consolidating both electrical power generation and power storage. Flexible PV has been demonstrated in both amorphous silicon (a-Si) and copper-indium-diselenide (CIS), as well as laboratory-scale flexible solid-state lithium ceramic batteries. However, not attempt has been reported at combining the two technologies. This concept would reduce the cost, weight, and stowage volume of both the PV array and the batter storage required in the spacecraft bus. The TOPS-PV program is to investigate the combination of the solid-state battery and both a-Si and CIS to determine the compatibility of the two technologies with regard to roll-to-roll manufacture. Phase I will demonstrate the PV/Battery stack, while Phase II and III will involve the scaleup and manufacture of flexible power units respectively. Processing technology of the battery shall be limited to in-vacuum techniques such as sputtering, chemical vapor deposition, or evaporation to be compatible with roll-to-roll processing.