THIN CRYSTALLINE SILICON FILM PHOTOVOLTAIC SOLAR CELLS AND ARRAYS ON FLEXIBLE SUBSTRATES

SOLAR CELLS ARE BEING FABRICATED USING THIN FILMS OF SILICON ON INEXPENSIVE, FLEXIBLE CLOTH SUBSTRATES. PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICES FABRICATED WITH THESE STRUCTURES CAN DEMONSTRATE THE HIGH PERFORMANCE OF CRYSTALLINE SILICON WITH THE LIGHT WEIGHT OF THIN FILM SOLAR CELLS. THE RESULT IS A SOLAR CELL THAT HAS APPLICATIONS WHEREVER A LIGHTWEIGHT POWER SOURCE IS NEEDED. THE RADIATION TOLERANCE OF THIN CRYSTALLINE SILICON DEVICES MAKE THIS TECHNOLOGY WELL SUITED TO SPACE APPLICATIONS. TERRESTRIAL APPLICATIONS CAN ALSO BENEFIT FROM THE LIGHTWEIGHT, LOW-COST DESIGN. ALL TYPES OF MOBILE POWER GENERATORS, INCLUDING MILITARY AND COMMERICAL, ARE POTENTIAL CANDIDATES FOR THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY.