MicroLink Devices, Inc. - Photovoltaics

MicroLink Devices designs and manufactures solar cells and solar sheets for a variety of applications, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), spacecraft, and terrestrial collectors.

These high-efficiency, single- and multi-junction GaAs-based solar cells are manufactured using MicroLink’s proprietary epitaxial lift-off (ELO) technology, in which the solar cell structure is removed from the substrate on which it is grown.

The result is a solar cell that is efficient, lightweight, and flexible. The substrate can be reused multiple times, which reduces the cost of the solar cell.

Please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for further information.

Solar Cells

MicroLink’s interconnected epitaxial lift-off (ELO) solar cells, which are available in single-junction, dual-junction, and triple-junction variants, are ideally suited for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) applications. The cells are efficient, with a demonstrated efficiency of up to 31% under AM1.5 illumination. MicroLink makes a cell with dimensions 6.6 cm x 3.1 cm, and other areas are available on request. With a total thickness of <40 μm, the cells are very flexible and will conform to curved surfaces. The areal mass density of the cell is <250 g/m2, resulting in power per unit area >250 W/m2 and specific power >1,000 W/kg. MicroLink will supply strings of cells to customer requirements. The cells have integrated bypass diodes, and are connected with silver tape, which is welded to the cell, resulting in a strong and reliable bond.

Solar Sheets

MicroLink solar sheets for UAVs contain solar cells based on our state-of-the-art epitaxial lift-off (ELO) technology. Triple-junction, dual-junction, or single-junction variants are available. Sheets with triple-junction cells have demonstrated efficiency >30% under AM1.5 illumination. Because of the very low thickness of the ELO solar cells, the sheets are flexible and conform to curved surfaces, such as the upper surface of a wing. The sheets are customizable to meet needs of specific UAVs. The area of the sheet and the number of strings it contains can be adjusted to meet customer requirements. MicroLink’s current sheets contain cells with dimensions 6.6 cm x 3.1 cm; other cell areas are available on request. The cells are contained in a robust, flexible waterproof packaging. The areal mass density of the sheets is <350 g/m2, resulting in power per unit area >250 W/m2 under AM 1.5 illumination and specific power >700 W/kg.

Space Solar Cells

MicroLink’s triple-junction inverted metamorphic (IMM) solar cells for space applications are manufactured using our state-of-the-art epitaxial lift-off (ELO) technology. The cells have an AlInGaP/GaAs/InGaAs structure and are grown using metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) on a GaAs substrate. The efficiency of the cells is 29% under AM0 illumination. The cells are available in a variety of sizes: 20 cm2, 4 cm2, and 1 cm2 cells are available now and other sizes are available on request. Because of the ELO process, the cells are very light, with an areal mass density <350 g/m2. The cells are available as single devices or in a coverglass/interconnect/cell (CIC) format.

CPV

MicroLink’s triple-junction InGaAs/GaAs/InGaP IMM solar cells for CPV are made using our proprietary epitaxial lift-off (ELO) process. The cells are optimized for operation at high concentration ratios and include an antireflection coating to maximize coupling of light into the cell. The very low thickness of ELO cells reduces the thermal impedance of the cells, resulting in a reduced operating temperature and increased efficiency. Cells are available in 0.5 cm x 0.5 cm and 1.0 cm x 1.0 cm form factors.