MicroLink Devices UK

MicroLink Devices UK Ltd is a manufacturer of lightweight solar cells and high energy battery packs. The company is based in Cardiff, United Kingdom. Its address is Centre 7, Malthouse Avenue, Cardiff Gate Business Park. The site says the company pioneered the scale up of the epitaxial lift off process for gallium arsenide wafers.

The site describes its solar cells as flexible multi junction cells. It says they weigh under 250 grams per square metre and are up to five times lighter than germanium based cells. It gives a specific power above 3,000 W/kg, an efficiency above 30 percent and flexibility down to a 2 cm radius.

The company designs and makes custom solar sheets. The site names two high altitude aircraft that use its flexible solar sheets. These are the AALTO Zephyr and the BAE Systems PHASA-35. The site says the sheets are made to meet the needs of each project.

The site lists battery packs with specific energy up to 450 Wh/kg and energy density up to 850 Wh/l. It says the packs can be made in soft cases, protective hard cases or pressure constrained cases for high altitude use. The site says the batteries can give up to twice the endurance for UAV applications.

The site says the solar cells are used on high altitude and smaller UAV platforms for missions lasting weeks. It also says the cells can lower launch costs for space applications. The company says it offers volume manufacturing for battery packs designed by third parties.

The contact page lists a phone number, a contact form and a LinkedIn page. The site has pages for careers, news, the company directors and technology. It also has a page on the types of organisations the company works with.

The site describes the flexible solar sheets as a key enabling technology for high altitude aircraft. It says the sheets are designed for each unique application, with optimal performance and efficiency. The site says the solar cells can open new design approaches for satellite platform concepts.