Sbir phase I: perovskite solar cells on metal foil substrates: enabling low-cost and flexible solar technology

The National Science Foundation awarded Verde Technologies Incorporated $305,000 on October 1, 2026, under the SBIR Phase I program to develop perovskite solar cells fabricated directly on metal foil substrates. The work addresses three core objectives: improving metal foil surface quality to support high-quality thin-film growth, integrating efficient transport and absorber layers onto the metal substrate, and evaluating transparent top contact formation and substrate reuse pathways. The project targets a manufacturing approach that reduces cost and installation burden while enabling new applications such as portable power and weight-sensitive surface generation, with potential to strengthen U.S. energy dominance and support advanced manufacturing.

The recipient, Verde Technologies Incorporated, is a for-profit renewable energy and advanced materials research organization based in Duxbury, Vermont. Performance occurs in Waterbury, Vermont from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. The award falls under NSF's Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships program (CFDA 47.084), which seeks to advance science and engineering research and innovation leading to breakthrough technologies and solutions to national, societal, and geostrategic challenges. The project addresses high-risk technical challenges inherent to metal foil substrates—their rough surfaces introduce defects and degrade charge transport and device stability—and requires development of transparent top electrodes that maintain electrical conductivity while enabling efficient light entry.

Abstract

The broader/commercial impact of this small business innovation research phase I project will be the development of a lightweight, flexible, and potentially recyclable solar manufacturing approach that can expand the range of applications for solar energy. Conventional solar panels are rigid and heavy, which limits installation on many rooftops and structures. This project will investigate a new approach for making solar cells directly on metal foil, with the goal of reducing manufacturing cost, lowering installation burden, and enabling new applications such as portable power and power generation on weight-sensitive surfaces. If successful, this technology could strengthen U.S. Energy dominance, and support advanced manufacturing jobs. This small business innovation research phase I project will focus on a high-risk approach for fabricating perovskite solar cells directly on metal foil substrates instead of conventional glass or plastic-based platforms. The key technical risk is that metal foil surfaces are significantly rougher and more difficult to process, which can introduce defects, reduce charge transport, and limit device stability. A second major challenge is the development of a transparent top electrode that allows light to enter the device efficiently while maintaining electrical conductivity. The project will advance the field by developing interface engineering strategies, thin-film deposition methods, and transparent contact designs for flexible perovskite photovoltaics. The scope of the work includes three main objectives: improving the metal foil surface to support high-quality thin-film growth, integrating efficient transport and absorber layers onto the metal substrate, and evaluating pathways for transparent top contact formation and substrate reuse. The methodology will include tasks related to substrate surface treatment, slot-coating of functional layers, controlled film formation, and electrical and stability testing of completed devices. Successful completion of this work will establish the feasibility of a scalable manufacturing pathway for flexible perovskite solar cells compatible with roll-to-roll production. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are not planned for this award.