Microsystems-Enabled Photovoltaics: A Path to the Widespread Harnessing of Solar Energy

Abstract If solar energy is ever going to become a mainstream power source, the technologies for harnessing sunlight have to become cheaper than all other forms of energy, be easy and quick to install, and work more safely, reliably and durably than present-day grid power. Our research team is striving to make this happen by utilizing microdesign and microfabrication techniques used in the semiconductor, LCD and microsystem industries. In this article, we describe microsystems-enabled photovoltaic (MEPV) concepts that consist of the fabrication of micro-scale crystalline silicon and GaAs solar cells, the release of these cells into a photovoltaic (PV) “ink” solution, and the printing of these cells onto a substrate using fluidic self-assembly approaches. So far, we have produced 10 percent efficient crystalline GaAs cells that are 3 μm thick and 14.9 percent efficient crystalline silicon cells that are 14 μm thick. The costs associated with this module assembly approach in conjunction with optical concentration can be well below $1/Wattpeak while retaining the superior conversion efficiency and durability of crystalline silicon and III-V materials.