Very High Efficient Solar Cells

Program Manager: Dr. Brian Pierce

The objective of the Very High Efficiency Solar Cell program is to demonstrate at least 50% efficiency in a photovoltaic (PV) device. Recent developments drawing on the use of engineered biomolecules to guide the assembly of inorganic materials offer the potential of a new process path for fabricating nanoscale, inorganic, three-dimensional meta-structures with dimensional and assembly control not achievable with current technologies. Combined, these independent advances suggest the potential for manufacturing a new type of high-efficiency, advanced PV solar power source.

The VHESC program final deliverables will include a minimum of 1,000 units, 10 cm2 per device, producing at least 0.5 W each with the above minimum efficiency, assuming a standard solar fluence of 1 kW/m2.