The NASA SBIR and STTR programs fund the research, development, and demonstration of innovative technologies that fulfill NASA needs as described in the annual Solicitations and have significant potential for successful commercialization. If you are a small business concern (SBC) with 500 or fewer employees or a non-profit RI such as a university or a research laboratory with ties to an SBC, then NASA encourages you to learn more about the SBIR and STTR programs as a potential source of seed funding for the development of your innovations.
The SBIR and STTR programs have 3 phases:
The SBIR and STTR Phase I contracts last for 6 months with a maximum funding of $125,000, and Phase II contracts last for 24 months with a maximum funding of $750,000 - $1.5 million.
Opportunity for Continued Technology Development Post-Phase II:
The NASA SBIR/STTR Program currently has in place two initiatives for supporting its small business partners past the basic Phase I and Phase II elements of the program that emphasize opportunities for commercialization. Specifically, the NASA SBIR/STTR Program has the Phase II Enhancement (Phase II-E) and Phase II eXpanded (Phase II-X) contract options.
Please review the links below to obtain more information on the SBIR/STTR programs.
Provides an overview of the SBIR and STTR programs as implemented by NASA
Provides access to the annual SBIR/STTR Solicitations containing detailed information on the program eligibility requirements, proposal instructions and research topics and subtopics
Schedule and links for the SBIR/STTR solicitations and selection announcements
Federal and non-Federal sources of assistance for small business
Search our complete archive of awarded project abstracts to learn about what NASA has funded
Still have questions? Visit the program FAQs
","parentProgram":{"ableToSelect":false,"isActive":true,"description":"Catalyst is a portfolio of early stage programs that specialize in different innovation constituencies and mechanisms to push the state of the art in aerospace technology development","programId":92327,"responsibleMd":{"canUserEdit":false,"locationEdit":false,"organizationRolePretty":"","organizationTypePretty":""},"title":"Catalyst","acronymOrTitle":"Catalyst"},"parentProgramId":92327,"programId":73,"responsibleMd":{"organizationId":4875,"organizationName":"Space Technology Mission Directorate","acronym":"STMD","organizationType":"NASA_Mission_Directorate","canUserEdit":false,"locationEdit":false,"organizationRolePretty":"","organizationTypePretty":"NASA Mission Directorate"},"responsibleMdOffice":4875,"stockImageFileId":36648,"title":"Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Tech Transfer","acronymOrTitle":"SBIR/STTR"},"description":"MicroLink Devices will increase the efficiency of multi-junction solar cells by designing and demonstrating advanced anti-reflection coatings (ARCs) that will provide a better broadband spectral response than that of conventional anti-reflection coatings. Advanced coatings of this nature are needed to realize the full performance of the forthcoming generation of multi-junction solar cells, which will contain four or more junctions. Two approaches to improving the performance of the antireflection coatings will be investigated: * develop multilayer dielectric antireflection coatings incorporating LaTiO3 to achieve significantly improved optical coupling between the coverglass and cell at the ultraviolet and infrared ends of the spectral range of interest; and * develop a structure and corresponding fabrication process to oxidize the Al-containing window layer in order to reduce the absorption of light at the short-end of the spectral range of interest, thus providing extra useable photons to the cell. These two technologies will be integrated into a hybrid design which will provide the best possible coupling of light from cover glass to cell in order to achieve the highest possible efficiency in next-generation devices containing four or more junctions. It is expected that the new coatings will enable a relative efficiency increase of at least 7%, corresponding to a 2.5% absolute efficiency increase. The reliability and radiation tolerance of these materials and the solar cells incorporating the new designs will be tested.
","benefits":"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.
The NASA SBIR and STTR programs fund the research, development, and demonstration of innovative technologies that fulfill NASA needs as described in the annual Solicitations and have significant potential for successful commercialization. If you are a small business concern (SBC) with 500 or fewer employees or a non-profit RI such as a university or a research laboratory with ties to an SBC, then NASA encourages you to learn more about the SBIR and STTR programs as a potential source of seed funding for the development of your innovations.
The SBIR and STTR programs have 3 phases:
The SBIR and STTR Phase I contracts last for 6 months with a maximum funding of $125,000, and Phase II contracts last for 24 months with a maximum funding of $750,000 - $1.5 million.
Opportunity for Continued Technology Development Post-Phase II:
The NASA SBIR/STTR Program currently has in place two initiatives for supporting its small business partners past the basic Phase I and Phase II elements of the program that emphasize opportunities for commercialization. Specifically, the NASA SBIR/STTR Program has the Phase II Enhancement (Phase II-E) and Phase II eXpanded (Phase II-X) contract options.
Please review the links below to obtain more information on the SBIR/STTR programs.
Provides an overview of the SBIR and STTR programs as implemented by NASA
Provides access to the annual SBIR/STTR Solicitations containing detailed information on the program eligibility requirements, proposal instructions and research topics and subtopics
Schedule and links for the SBIR/STTR solicitations and selection announcements
Federal and non-Federal sources of assistance for small business
Search our complete archive of awarded project abstracts to learn about what NASA has funded
Still have questions? Visit the program FAQs
","parentProgram":{"ableToSelect":false,"isActive":true,"description":"Catalyst is a portfolio of early stage programs that specialize in different innovation constituencies and mechanisms to push the state of the art in aerospace technology development","programId":92327,"responsibleMd":{"canUserEdit":false,"locationEdit":false,"organizationRolePretty":"","organizationTypePretty":""},"title":"Catalyst","acronymOrTitle":"Catalyst"},"parentProgramId":92327,"programId":73,"responsibleMd":{"organizationId":4875,"organizationName":"Space Technology Mission Directorate","acronym":"STMD","organizationType":"NASA_Mission_Directorate","canUserEdit":false,"locationEdit":false,"organizationRolePretty":"","organizationTypePretty":"NASA Mission Directorate"},"responsibleMdOffice":4875,"stockImageFileId":36648,"title":"Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Tech Transfer","acronymOrTitle":"SBIR/STTR"},"description":"MicroLink Devices will increase the efficiency of multi-junction solar cells by designing and demonstrating advanced anti-reflection coatings (ARCs) that will provide a better broadband spectral response than that of conventional anti-reflection coatings. Advanced coatings of this nature are needed to realize the full performance of the forthcoming generation of multi-junction solar cells, which will contain four or more junctions. Two approaches to improving the performance of the antireflection coatings will be investigated: * develop multilayer dielectric antireflection coatings incorporating LaTiO3 to achieve significantly improved optical coupling between the coverglass and cell at the ultraviolet and infrared ends of the spectral range of interest; and * develop a structure and corresponding fabrication process to oxidize the Al-containing window layer in order to reduce the absorption of light at the short-end of the spectral range of interest, thus providing extra useable photons to the cell. These two technologies will be integrated into a hybrid design which will provide the best possible coupling of light from cover glass to cell in order to achieve the highest possible efficiency in next-generation devices containing four or more junctions. It is expected that the new coatings will enable a relative efficiency increase of at least 7%, corresponding to a 2.5% absolute efficiency increase. The reliability and radiation tolerance of these materials and the solar cells incorporating the new designs will be tested.
","benefits":"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.
The NASA SBIR and STTR programs fund the research, development, and demonstration of innovative technologies that fulfill NASA needs as described in the annual Solicitations and have significant potential for successful commercialization. If you are a small business concern (SBC) with 500 or fewer employees or a non-profit RI such as a university or a research laboratory with ties to an SBC, then NASA encourages you to learn more about the SBIR and STTR programs as a potential source of seed funding for the development of your innovations.
The SBIR and STTR programs have 3 phases:
The SBIR and STTR Phase I contracts last for 6 months with a maximum funding of $125,000, and Phase II contracts last for 24 months with a maximum funding of $750,000 - $1.5 million.
Opportunity for Continued Technology Development Post-Phase II:
The NASA SBIR/STTR Program currently has in place two initiatives for supporting its small business partners past the basic Phase I and Phase II elements of the program that emphasize opportunities for commercialization. Specifically, the NASA SBIR/STTR Program has the Phase II Enhancement (Phase II-E) and Phase II eXpanded (Phase II-X) contract options.
Please review the links below to obtain more information on the SBIR/STTR programs.
Provides an overview of the SBIR and STTR programs as implemented by NASA
Provides access to the annual SBIR/STTR Solicitations containing detailed information on the program eligibility requirements, proposal instructions and research topics and subtopics
Schedule and links for the SBIR/STTR solicitations and selection announcements
Federal and non-Federal sources of assistance for small business
Search our complete archive of awarded project abstracts to learn about what NASA has funded
Still have questions? Visit the program FAQs
","parentProgram":{"ableToSelect":false,"isActive":true,"description":"Catalyst is a portfolio of early stage programs that specialize in different innovation constituencies and mechanisms to push the state of the art in aerospace technology development","programId":92327,"responsibleMd":{"canUserEdit":false,"locationEdit":false,"organizationRolePretty":"","organizationTypePretty":""},"title":"Catalyst","acronymOrTitle":"Catalyst"},"parentProgramId":92327,"programId":73,"responsibleMd":{"organizationId":4875,"organizationName":"Space Technology Mission Directorate","acronym":"STMD","organizationType":"NASA_Mission_Directorate","canUserEdit":false,"locationEdit":false,"organizationRolePretty":"","organizationTypePretty":"NASA Mission Directorate"},"responsibleMdOffice":4875,"stockImageFileId":36648,"title":"Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Tech Transfer","acronymOrTitle":"SBIR/STTR"},"description":"MicroLink and its subcontractor Magnolia Solar will develop and demonstrate advanced anti-reflection coating (ARC) designs that will provide a better broadband and angular response than that of current coatings. Advanced coatings of this nature are needed to realize the full potential forthcoming generation of multi-junction solar cells that will contain four or more junctions. We will undertake several approaches to this problem: * investigate new dielectric materials that will allow a refractive index intermediate between those of the materials that are currently in common use as ARCs; * investigate a dielectric codeposition processes that will allow the fabrication of materials with a wide range of refractive indices; and * investigate oxidation of Al-containing III-V semiconductor compounds as a mechanism for forming a more transparent window layer. Based on the results of these investigations, we will fabricate and test on III-V triple-junction solar cells the best-identified candidates for improved anti-reflection coating. If successful, the new coating designs will have a reflectance less than 5% over the spectral range 300 nm to 1800 nm and over a wide range of incident angles. The coatings will be completely compatible with inverted metamorphic (IMM) multi-junction solar cell technology and will be optically matched to IMM solar cells. We expect the new coatings will enable a relative efficiency increase of at least 7%, corresponding to a 2.5% absolute efficiency increase.","benefits":"The ARC technology to be developed in the proposed program will be applicable to the generation of multi-junction solar cells currently in use and to the novel solar cell designs currently under development. It will therefore have application in all current solar-powered NASA space missions and in forthcoming projects such as solar electric propulsion (SEP). The technology will also increase the efficiency of solar cells that are used to extend the duration of electrically powered unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The ARC technology is also applicable to the epitaxial lift-off (ELO) solar cell technology under development by MicroLink. It will therefore be possible to combine the increased efficiency enabled by the new ARC technology with the lightweight, flexible, reduced-cost ELO solar cells.The NASA SBIR and STTR programs fund the research, development, and demonstration of innovative technologies that fulfill NASA needs as described in the annual Solicitations and have significant potential for successful commercialization. If you are a small business concern (SBC) with 500 or fewer employees or a non-profit RI such as a university or a research laboratory with ties to an SBC, then NASA encourages you to learn more about the SBIR and STTR programs as a potential source of seed funding for the development of your innovations.
The SBIR and STTR programs have 3 phases:
The SBIR and STTR Phase I contracts last for 6 months with a maximum funding of $125,000, and Phase II contracts last for 24 months with a maximum funding of $750,000 - $1.5 million.
Opportunity for Continued Technology Development Post-Phase II:
The NASA SBIR/STTR Program currently has in place two initiatives for supporting its small business partners past the basic Phase I and Phase II elements of the program that emphasize opportunities for commercialization. Specifically, the NASA SBIR/STTR Program has the Phase II Enhancement (Phase II-E) and Phase II eXpanded (Phase II-X) contract options.
Please review the links below to obtain more information on the SBIR/STTR programs.
Provides an overview of the SBIR and STTR programs as implemented by NASA
Provides access to the annual SBIR/STTR Solicitations containing detailed information on the program eligibility requirements, proposal instructions and research topics and subtopics
Schedule and links for the SBIR/STTR solicitations and selection announcements
Federal and non-Federal sources of assistance for small business
Search our complete archive of awarded project abstracts to learn about what NASA has funded
Still have questions? Visit the program FAQs
","parentProgram":{"ableToSelect":false,"isActive":true,"description":"Catalyst is a portfolio of early stage programs that specialize in different innovation constituencies and mechanisms to push the state of the art in aerospace technology development","programId":92327,"responsibleMd":{"canUserEdit":false,"locationEdit":false,"organizationRolePretty":"","organizationTypePretty":""},"title":"Catalyst","acronymOrTitle":"Catalyst"},"parentProgramId":92327,"programId":73,"responsibleMd":{"organizationId":4875,"organizationName":"Space Technology Mission Directorate","acronym":"STMD","organizationType":"NASA_Mission_Directorate","canUserEdit":false,"locationEdit":false,"organizationRolePretty":"","organizationTypePretty":"NASA Mission Directorate"},"responsibleMdOffice":4875,"stockImageFileId":36648,"title":"Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Tech Transfer","acronymOrTitle":"SBIR/STTR"},"description":"MicroLink Devices will increase the efficiency of multi-junction solar cells by designing and demonstrating advanced anti-reflection coatings (ARCs) that will provide a better broadband spectral response than that of conventional anti-reflection coatings. Advanced coatings of this nature are needed to realize the full performance of the forthcoming generation of multi-junction solar cells, which will contain four or more junctions. Two approaches to improving the performance of the antireflection coatings will be investigated: * develop multilayer dielectric antireflection coatings incorporating LaTiO3 to achieve significantly improved optical coupling between the coverglass and cell at the ultraviolet and infrared ends of the spectral range of interest; and * develop a structure and corresponding fabrication process to oxidize the Al-containing window layer in order to reduce the absorption of light at the short-end of the spectral range of interest, thus providing extra useable photons to the cell. These two technologies will be integrated into a hybrid design which will provide the best possible coupling of light from cover glass to cell in order to achieve the highest possible efficiency in next-generation devices containing four or more junctions. It is expected that the new coatings will enable a relative efficiency increase of at least 7%, corresponding to a 2.5% absolute efficiency increase. The reliability and radiation tolerance of these materials and the solar cells incorporating the new designs will be tested.
","benefits":"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.
The NASA SBIR and STTR programs fund the research, development, and demonstration of innovative technologies that fulfill NASA needs as described in the annual Solicitations and have significant potential for successful commercialization. If you are a small business concern (SBC) with 500 or fewer employees or a non-profit RI such as a university or a research laboratory with ties to an SBC, then NASA encourages you to learn more about the SBIR and STTR programs as a potential source of seed funding for the development of your innovations.
The SBIR and STTR programs have 3 phases:
The SBIR and STTR Phase I contracts last for 6 months with a maximum funding of $125,000, and Phase II contracts last for 24 months with a maximum funding of $750,000 - $1.5 million.
Opportunity for Continued Technology Development Post-Phase II:
The NASA SBIR/STTR Program currently has in place two initiatives for supporting its small business partners past the basic Phase I and Phase II elements of the program that emphasize opportunities for commercialization. Specifically, the NASA SBIR/STTR Program has the Phase II Enhancement (Phase II-E) and Phase II eXpanded (Phase II-X) contract options.
Please review the links below to obtain more information on the SBIR/STTR programs.
Provides an overview of the SBIR and STTR programs as implemented by NASA
Provides access to the annual SBIR/STTR Solicitations containing detailed information on the program eligibility requirements, proposal instructions and research topics and subtopics
Schedule and links for the SBIR/STTR solicitations and selection announcements
Federal and non-Federal sources of assistance for small business
Search our complete archive of awarded project abstracts to learn about what NASA has funded
Still have questions? Visit the program FAQs
","parentProgram":{"ableToSelect":false,"isActive":true,"description":"Catalyst is a portfolio of early stage programs that specialize in different innovation constituencies and mechanisms to push the state of the art in aerospace technology development","programId":92327,"responsibleMd":{"canUserEdit":false,"locationEdit":false,"organizationRolePretty":"","organizationTypePretty":""},"title":"Catalyst","acronymOrTitle":"Catalyst"},"parentProgramId":92327,"programId":73,"responsibleMd":{"organizationId":4875,"organizationName":"Space Technology Mission Directorate","acronym":"STMD","organizationType":"NASA_Mission_Directorate","canUserEdit":false,"locationEdit":false,"organizationRolePretty":"","organizationTypePretty":"NASA Mission Directorate"},"responsibleMdOffice":4875,"stockImageFileId":36648,"title":"Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Tech Transfer","acronymOrTitle":"SBIR/STTR"},"description":"MicroLink Devices will increase the efficiency of multi-junction solar cells by designing and demonstrating advanced anti-reflection coatings (ARCs) that will provide a better broadband spectral response than that of conventional anti-reflection coatings. Advanced coatings of this nature are needed to realize the full performance of the forthcoming generation of multi-junction solar cells, which will contain four or more junctions. Two approaches to improving the performance of the antireflection coatings will be investigated: * develop multilayer dielectric antireflection coatings incorporating LaTiO3 to achieve significantly improved optical coupling between the coverglass and cell at the ultraviolet and infrared ends of the spectral range of interest; and * develop a structure and corresponding fabrication process to oxidize the Al-containing window layer in order to reduce the absorption of light at the short-end of the spectral range of interest, thus providing extra useable photons to the cell. These two technologies will be integrated into a hybrid design which will provide the best possible coupling of light from cover glass to cell in order to achieve the highest possible efficiency in next-generation devices containing four or more junctions. It is expected that the new coatings will enable a relative efficiency increase of at least 7%, corresponding to a 2.5% absolute efficiency increase. The reliability and radiation tolerance of these materials and the solar cells incorporating the new designs will be tested.
","benefits":"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.
The NASA SBIR and STTR programs fund the research, development, and demonstration of innovative technologies that fulfill NASA needs as described in the annual Solicitations and have significant potential for successful commercialization. If you are a small business concern (SBC) with 500 or fewer employees or a non-profit RI such as a university or a research laboratory with ties to an SBC, then NASA encourages you to learn more about the SBIR and STTR programs as a potential source of seed funding for the development of your innovations.
The SBIR and STTR programs have 3 phases:
The SBIR and STTR Phase I contracts last for 6 months with a maximum funding of $125,000, and Phase II contracts last for 24 months with a maximum funding of $750,000 - $1.5 million.
Opportunity for Continued Technology Development Post-Phase II:
The NASA SBIR/STTR Program currently has in place two initiatives for supporting its small business partners past the basic Phase I and Phase II elements of the program that emphasize opportunities for commercialization. Specifically, the NASA SBIR/STTR Program has the Phase II Enhancement (Phase II-E) and Phase II eXpanded (Phase II-X) contract options.
Please review the links below to obtain more information on the SBIR/STTR programs.
Provides an overview of the SBIR and STTR programs as implemented by NASA
Provides access to the annual SBIR/STTR Solicitations containing detailed information on the program eligibility requirements, proposal instructions and research topics and subtopics
Schedule and links for the SBIR/STTR solicitations and selection announcements
Federal and non-Federal sources of assistance for small business
Search our complete archive of awarded project abstracts to learn about what NASA has funded
Still have questions? Visit the program FAQs
","parentProgram":{"ableToSelect":false,"isActive":true,"description":"Catalyst is a portfolio of early stage programs that specialize in different innovation constituencies and mechanisms to push the state of the art in aerospace technology development","programId":92327,"responsibleMd":{"canUserEdit":false,"locationEdit":false,"organizationRolePretty":"","organizationTypePretty":""},"title":"Catalyst","acronymOrTitle":"Catalyst"},"parentProgramId":92327,"programId":73,"responsibleMd":{"organizationId":4875,"organizationName":"Space Technology Mission Directorate","acronym":"STMD","organizationType":"NASA_Mission_Directorate","canUserEdit":false,"locationEdit":false,"organizationRolePretty":"","organizationTypePretty":"NASA Mission Directorate"},"responsibleMdOffice":4875,"stockImageFileId":36648,"title":"Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Tech Transfer","acronymOrTitle":"SBIR/STTR"},"description":"MicroLink and its subcontractor Magnolia Solar will develop and demonstrate advanced anti-reflection coating (ARC) designs that will provide a better broadband and angular response than that of current coatings. Advanced coatings of this nature are needed to realize the full potential forthcoming generation of multi-junction solar cells that will contain four or more junctions. We will undertake several approaches to this problem: * investigate new dielectric materials that will allow a refractive index intermediate between those of the materials that are currently in common use as ARCs; * investigate a dielectric codeposition processes that will allow the fabrication of materials with a wide range of refractive indices; and * investigate oxidation of Al-containing III-V semiconductor compounds as a mechanism for forming a more transparent window layer. Based on the results of these investigations, we will fabricate and test on III-V triple-junction solar cells the best-identified candidates for improved anti-reflection coating. If successful, the new coating designs will have a reflectance less than 5% over the spectral range 300 nm to 1800 nm and over a wide range of incident angles. The coatings will be completely compatible with inverted metamorphic (IMM) multi-junction solar cell technology and will be optically matched to IMM solar cells. We expect the new coatings will enable a relative efficiency increase of at least 7%, corresponding to a 2.5% absolute efficiency increase.","benefits":"The ARC technology to be developed in the proposed program will be applicable to the generation of multi-junction solar cells currently in use and to the novel solar cell designs currently under development. It will therefore have application in all current solar-powered NASA space missions and in forthcoming projects such as solar electric propulsion (SEP). The technology will also increase the efficiency of solar cells that are used to extend the duration of electrically powered unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The ARC technology is also applicable to the epitaxial lift-off (ELO) solar cell technology under development by MicroLink. It will therefore be possible to combine the increased efficiency enabled by the new ARC technology with the lightweight, flexible, reduced-cost ELO solar cells.