Highly Crystalline Semiconductor Substrates for High Specific Power Solar Cells Fabricated by Nanocrystal Precursors

The SBIR proposal is to develop ultra-thin highly crystalline semiconductor substrates that can be used for the fabrication of high power solar arrays from nanocrystals precursors. The as-prepared semiconductor substrates can be used as either the opticalwindow or base substrates for the solar cells. The quality of semiconductor substrates will be improved by the use of high quality--precisely controlled size, narrow size distribution, different shapes, high crystallinity, various composition, and newsurface ligands coated, semiconductor nanocrystals as precursor. Lattice match between these substrates and high performance solar cells is an important criterion for choosing the materials. These substrates will be fabricated on metal foils or polymersupports by the use of high quality semiconductor nanocrystals as precursors. The production of such nanocrystals is discussed in detail. A new strategy for fabricating highly crystalline semiconductor substrates on desired supports are proposed. Solarcells are essential and ultimate energy sources for many military and civilian space missions. Satellites, for instance, are being powered by solar cells no matter they are for civilian or military uses. Commercial market opportunities exist for low-costand high power solar cell fabricated using nanocrystals as precursor.