Thin Film Multi-source Energy Harvester for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

There is a need to extend the overall flight time in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Currently, the power supply of UAVs is generally based on silicon solar cells, CIGS, and CdTe commercial thin film solar cells, operating through energy storage devices such as lithium-ion batteries. However, UAV technology still suffers from limited flight time available, which limits the capability to collect all the information needed during reconnaissance missions for the US Army. In Phase I project, we have developed lightweight, hybridized dye-sensitized solar cells(DSSC) and perovskite solar cells(PSSC) tandem assembled with nanogenerators(NG) that are less sensitive to incident sunlight than a conventional solar cell and capable of converting electricity from turbulence and temperature difference generated during the flight of UAVs at high altitudes. In the Phase II project, we will develop technologies to improve the reliability of multiple energy harvesting devices using DSSC, PSSC, and NG materials and designs developed in Phase I. In addition, a multi-energy harvesting device composed of reliable, yet low-cost materials and processes will be developed for rapid commercialization. We will also optimize the manufacturing process and apply the energy-harvesting device to small UAVs to evaluate actual operating performance and to improve the real-life problems encountered.