Ascent Solar Wins Another U.S. Air Force Research Program

Littleton, CO - Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. recently announced that it has been selected by the U.S. Air Force to develop a new transparent conductive oxide (TCO) material to serve as the top electrical contact for flexible monolithically integrated thin-film, copper-indium-gallium-selenium (CIGS) solar cells.

The Ascent Solar innovation involves developing a new material system that will be deposited using a novel roll-to-roll process. The new process offers the potential for a higher-quality, lower-cost alternative to the TCO materials and deposition methods presently used. The program will be performed under a Small Business Innovative Research contract.

Ascent Solar Vice President and Chief Technology Officer Dr. Joseph Armstrong stated, "This program provides us with an opportunity to improve the top layer of our flexible thin-film photovoltaic product. We believe that the new film material and innovative manufacturing method offers the potential for significantly lower-cost and better-performing products in the future."

SOURCE: Ascent Solar Technologies