Alex Ignatiev
The expansion of man into space will require the Moon as a stepping stone. To that end, the Moon will require significant electrical energy. We propose to supply that energy through the fabrication of thin film silicon solar cells on the Moon.
The utilization of space and the commercialization of space, including human colonies in space.
Alex Ignatiev is the recent Director of the Center for Advanced Materials, and the Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen Professor of Physics, Chemistry, and Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Houston. Ignatiev received a B.S. in Physics and Applied Mathematics from the University of Wisconsin, and a Ph.D. in Materials Science from Cornell University. Ignatiev has worked on advanced materials in a variety of research and development areas including advanced materials in space. Ignatiev originated the Wake Shield Facility (WSF) program with NASA, which focused on the utilization of the vacuum of space for the growth and fabrication of advanced thin film semiconductor materials and devices for the microelectronics and energy fields. Ignatiev’s current research is involved in the development of thin film solid oxide fuel cells, in the development of thin film solar cells, and in the advancement and application of high temperature superconductivity.
Our thin film technology has the ability to fabricate solar cells directly on the surface of the Moon utilizing lunar resources. This technology will be prototyped and brought to the Moon for development of a commercial power generating system.
Energy in space....
Thin film materials and devices with focus on energy generating and energy saving devices including solar cell, fuel cells, batteries and other electrical storage systems, and electrical transmission via superconductivity.