Wireless sensors are an extremely effective means of communication on the modern battlefield, however current battery technologies have limited the full realization of these essential tools. A robust, high efficiency, light weight, flexible power source is thus critical for effective deployment of modern technologies. Organic-inorganic hybrid perovskites (OIHPs) are the ideal candidates for use in unmanned systems, wearable electronics, and remote power, as they are light weight and flexible, and have recently demonstrated a record specific power of 23 W/g, rivalling any competing photovoltaic technology. Unlike traditional thin film solar technology, OIHPs are readily solution processed, opening avenues to novel processing methods. Energy Materials Corporation (EMC), in collaboration with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC), will develop flexible OIHP solar modules made with high-speed roll-to-roll printers. In this Phase I effort, we will develop materials and scalable processes to generate high efficiency flexible perovskite solar cells on lab equipment, demonstrating viability of the technology. Upon completion of the Program, light weight, flexible OIHP modules will be generated at production scale, allowing US military adoption across a spectrum of technologies ranging from wireless sensors to wearable power systems.
