We are currently applying our core competencies to develop potential products for various applications in multiple industries. One potential product is a new type of solar cell that performs like a traditional solar cell, but can be configured like a light weight, flexible plastic. In particular, this technology has the potential to provide low cost solar power through currently available, high volume and inexpensive manufacturing techniques based on conventional film based processes such as roll to roll manufacturing.

As an illustration of our development process, using the following steps, we have created a functioning solar cell:

• Synthesis: We develop nanostructures for this application that are capable of light absorption, charge generation and charge conduction when incorporated into an appropriate matrix and thus act as a solar cell. We constructed the nanostructure to absorb the sun's light in an optimal manner and to separate resulting electrical charges.
  
  
• Assembly: To enable high volume, inexpensive manufacturing, it is desirable to process the nanostructures while suspended in a liquid and then harden the liquid into a film. We selected a plastic matrix from which a film is made. We also designed the specific surface chemistry on the nanostructures to allow their uniform mixing into the plastic matrix.
  
  
• Nano to macro interface: Each individual nanostructure generates electrical charges when it absorbs the sun's rays. We designed the nanostructure's surface chemistry to facilitate the transfer of electrical charges out of the nanostructure. We apply traditional electrodes to the top and bottom of the film, which is composed of trillions of nanostructure sized solar cells, to transfer electrical charges out of the film into an electrical system, such as a storage battery or electrical device.
  
  
• Application specific format: For a solar cell, there are several application specific requirements: light must enter the device, the cell must be connected to a circuit to remove the electrical charges and the device must tolerate long-term environmental exposure. We plan to select electrodes and encapsulating films for our nanostructures to achieve the application specific requirements.
  
  
• Computer modeling and simulation: Throughout the development process, we use computer modeling and simulation. We calculate the necessary physical and functional properties of the individual nanostructures to guide synthesis. We model the solar spectrum to determine the optimum absorption characteristics of the nanostructures. We calculate the necessary physical and functional properties of the nanostructures so that they can act as solar cells. By modeling and simulating throughout the process, we expect to minimize the number of design iterations, thereby accelerating the entire development cycle.