Ultra-low profile solar-cell-integrated antenna with a high form factor

Area of Science:

• Electrical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Antenna Theory

Background:

• Integration of antennas into solar cells presents challenges in maintaining performance and form factor.
• Copper Indium Gallium Selenide (CIGS) solar cells offer potential for integration due to their material properties.
• Existing solutions often compromise antenna efficiency or solar cell area.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an ultra-low-profile solar-cell-integrated antenna with a high form factor.
• To achieve seamless integration of an antenna within a CIGS solar cell without optical blockage.
• To ensure independent performance of both the antenna and the solar cell.

Main Methods:

• Etching a tiny slot within the CIGS solar cell to create an antenna structure.
• Employing a ground-radiation antenna design with lumped elements within the slot.
• Utilizing a separate substrate for the feeding structure and connecting via holes.
• Implementing a radio-frequency decoupler to isolate antenna and solar cell functions.

Main Results:

• The integrated antenna operates across the entire 2.4–2.5 GHz Industrial Scientific Medical band.
• Achieved a maximum gain of 2.79 dBi and radiation efficiency exceeding 80%.
• Demonstrated an ultra-low profile (0.0046 λ_o) and a high form factor (99.1%) with no optical blockage.

Conclusions:

• The proposed CIGS solar-cell-integrated antenna design is effective and practical.
• The integration method successfully maintains the performance of both the antenna and the solar cell.
• This technology enables efficient dual-functionality in a compact form factor for various applications.