The anti-reflection coating (ARC) technology to be developed in the proposed program may be used to increase the efficiency of the multi-junction, Ge-based solar cells currently in use in many NASA applications. It may also be used to increase the efficiency of forthcoming solar cells containing four or more junctions. The ARC technology is also applicable to the lightweight, high-efficiency epitaxial lift-off (ELO) solar cell technology that has been developed by MicroLink. It will therefore be possible to combine the increased efficiency enabled by the new ARC technology with the, ELO solar cells, which will enable a new generation of lightweight, high-efficiency solar panels which will be key to enabling solar electric propulsion (SEP). Similarly, the new anti-reflection coating technology can be used to enhance the efficiency of solar cells for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) applications. The anti-reflection coating (ARC) technology to be developed in the proposed program may be used to increase the efficiency of the multi-junction, Ge-based solar cells currently in use in many commercial applications. It may also be used to increase the efficiency of forthcoming solar cells containing four or more junctions. The ARC technology is also applicable to the lightweight, high-efficiency epitaxial lift-off (ELO) solar cell technology that has been developed by MicroLink. It will therefore be possible to combine the increased efficiency enabled by the new ARC technology with the, ELO solar cells, which will enable a new generation of lightweight, high-efficiency solar panels for commercial applications. Similarly, the new anti-reflection coating technology can be used to enhance the efficiency of solar cells for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) applications. Solar cells act as a supplement to the batteries that are used to power some of the current generation of small UAVs. Increasing cell efficiency will result in further endurance enhancement. Lightweight, high-efficiency cells are an enabling technology for high altitude, long endurance (HALE) UAVs, such as DARPA Vulture. Lightweight, high-efficiency solar cells may be used in solar sheets for generation of electricity for high-value, off-grid applications, such as power generation for military field deployments, civilian outdoors and camping, and supplementary power for mobile devices such as phones.
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