SBIR Phase I: Stretched Silicon

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project aims to enhance the development of high-efficiency, lightweight microconcentrator photovoltaic arrays based on stretched silicon technology developed at Stanford University The project output will be a sparse matrix of small, high quality, miniature solar cells incorporated into modules. The stretchable silicon process achieves the accurate placement and electrical wiring of thousands of miniature solar cells in one parallel and potentially low-cost step. The resulting reductions in module interconnect costs, weight, and amount of active material may achieve the low costs necessary to make energy provision via easily-installed solar panels compelling to commercial and residential users.