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Nanofibrous Manganese Dioxides for Lithium Rechargeable Batteries--U.S. Nanocorp, Inc., 20 Washington Avenue, Suite 106, North Haven, CT 06473-2343; 203-234-8024
Dr. David E. Reisner, Principal Investigator
Dr. David E. Reisner, Business Official
DOE Grant No. DE-FG02-98ER82706
Amount: $750,000
Solar cell technologies based on copper indium selenide (CIS) materials have achieved the highest sunlight-to-electricity conversion efficiencies of any thin-film photovoltaics (PV) technology, but the role of CIS-based PV products in the commercial marketplace is limited. This is in large part due to the lack of simple, robust processes capable of depositing high quality CIS and electrode films at low costs on large areas with high-volume reproducibility. This project will develop a simple, self-limiting, non-vacuum technique for fabricating thin films of low-cost CIS solar cells. The two basic steps are to form nanocrystalline precursor layers and to convert the precursor layers into electronic-quality polycrystalline films. Phase I demonstrated that uniform, nanocrystalline precursor layers can be deposited, that precursor layers can be converted into high-quality CIS alloy films, and that efficient solar cells can be fabricated. It was also shown that simple non-vacuum techniques that work for forming CIS alloy films also are promising for depositing the metallic and transparent conductor electrodes needed for a complete solar cell. Phase II will explore improved layer-reaction pathways, demonstrate high-materials-use efficiencies, deposit high-quality films on large-area substrates, demonstrate state-of-the-art solar cell efficiencies, and demonstrate the overall commercial potential of the technology.
Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee: This project should result in a simple, easily-scalable, high-material-use-efficiency process for depositing thin films for large-area, low-cost solar cell. The process should halve the cost of CIS and electrode films for a thin-films solar module, thereby accelerating the commercialization of CIS PV technology for a wide range of applications.