Fabric structure comprising flexible solar cells

A fabric structure comprising:

• a polyester fabric;
• a butyl rubber layer disposed on the polyester fabric;
• a polyacrylonitrile layer attached to the butyl rubber layer;
• and
• a flexible, thin-film solar cell element located on the polyacrylonitrile layer,
• wherein the flexible, thin-film solar cell element is connected to a plurality of electrical connecting lines extending between the polyacrylonitrile layer and the butyl rubber layer.

A process for producing a fabric structure, the process comprising:

• applying a layer of butyl rubber to a polyester fabric;
• disposing a plurality of electrical connecting lines on the butyl rubber layer;
• applying a layer of polyacrylonitrile over the plurality of electrical connecting lines such that ends of the electrical connecting lines extend through the polyacrylonitrile layer;
• attaching a flexible, thin-film solar cell element to the polyacrylonitrile layer;
• and
• connecting the plurality of electrical connecting lines to the flexible, thin-film solar cell element.