Radiation Monitoring Devices, Inc. STTR Phase II Award, March 2018

To provide power for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), we propose developing solar cells made using perovskite halide solar absorbers, such as those based upon methylammonium lead iodide (CH3NH3PbI3). Our phase I efforts produced flexible solar cells that exhibited power conversion efficiencies (PCE) of 8.1%, a landmark achievement. The proposed research details how to achieve 20% power conversion efficiency using the perovskite solar cells by tuning the process conditions and the composition of the solar absorber. To achieve the highest power conversion efficiencies, in excess of 20%, the cells will be subjected to a battery of tests to determine the stability of the material by performing industry standard tests, such as light soaking, humidity, and electrical bias stressing. The cells will be integrated into modules, and in order to determine the suitability of the technology for UAS, tests will be performed on the fully integrated module that measure the circuit capacitance-resistance (RC), mechanical strain tests, pressure/shock tests, and radiation damage exposure test. Finally, developing robust encapsulation technologies to seal the cells against moisture will involve tests of potential encapsulants. Manufacturing challenges will involve scaling up the technology to industrially relevant sizes and suitably protecting the modules via encapsulation.