MicroLink Devices have developed Epitaxial Lift-Off (ELO), a technology for making large areas of thin, flexible, high-efficiency solar cells.  The cells are fabricated using Metal Organic Chemical Vapour Deposition (MOCVD).  A release layer is deposited directly on top of the GaAs substrate, and multi-junction solar cells are then deposited on the release layer.  

The presence of the release layer permits the solar cell epitaxial structure to be removed from the substrate without damage.  A metal backing layer is first applied to the solar cell structure in order to provide mechanical support for the solar cell after lift-off.  After removal of the substrate, conventional solar cell fabrication is performed on the multi-junction structure.  ELO process technology allows significant cost reductions since the GaAs substrate can be reused for subsequent growths of additional solar cells.