Beyond Earth: Resilience of Quasi‐2D Perovskite Solar Cells in Space
Abstract
ABSTRACT Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) offer unique advantages for space‐based energy harvesting, combining cost‐effective manufacturing with flexible, high power‐to‐weight devices that can reduce payload mass in deployable structures. Despite this promise, few reports have demonstrated the viability of this technology in realistic, space‐based scenarios, where they are subjected to large temperature variations and hard radiation. Here, we present a comprehensive analysis of PSC performance in low Earth orbit (LEO). The champion rigid cell exhibited relatively stable in‐orbit performance at ∼80% of initial efficiency over a 44‐day measurement interval that concluded nearly 100 days after launch, corresponding to ∼1600 orbital eclipse cycles and temperature ranges from −25 to 35°C. Mission data was systematically compared with laboratory measurements of rigid and ultrathin flexible PSCs across temperatures from −80 to +80°C and upon exposure to high‐energy proton radiation. Flexible devices retained over 92% efficiency after a proton dose equivalent to 50 years in orbit. Despite this radiation tolerance, mitigating pre‐flight environmental degradation remains a challenge for ultrathin substrates. Combined, this study bridges the gap between short suborbital demonstrations and long‐term orbital performance, highlighting the potential of PSCs as a low‐cost, resilient alternative for light harvesting, even in harsh space environments.
Article Details
Authors (18)
Christoph Putz
Division of Soft Matter Physics Institute of Experimental Physics Johannes Kepler University Linz Linz Austria
Lukas E. Lehner
Division of Soft Matter Physics Institute of Experimental Physics Johannes Kepler University Linz Linz Austria
Stepan Demchyshyn
Division of Soft Matter Physics Institute of Experimental Physics Johannes Kepler University Linz Linz Austria
Bekele Hailegnaw
Division of Soft Matter Physics Institute of Experimental Physics Johannes Kepler University Linz Linz Austria
Phillip Jahelka
Department of Applied Physics and Material Science California Institute of Technology Pasadena California USA
Magdalena Breitwieser
Division of Soft Matter Physics Institute of Experimental Physics Johannes Kepler University Linz Linz Austria
Sercan Özen
Institute Freigeist Juniorgroup Radiation Tolerant Electronics with Soft Semiconductors (ROSI) University of Potsdam Potsdam‐Golm Germany
Andrea Denker
Protons for Therapy Helmholtz‐Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie GmbH Berlin Germany
Jürgen Bundesmann
Protons for Therapy Helmholtz‐Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie GmbH Berlin Germany
Alina Hanna Dittwald
Protons for Therapy Helmholtz‐Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie GmbH Berlin Germany
Dilara Karabulut
Protons for Therapy Helmholtz‐Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie GmbH Berlin Germany
Philipp Tockhorn
Department Perovskite Tandem Solar Cells Helmholtz‐Zentrum Berlin Berlin Germany
Steve Albrecht
Helmholtz‐Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie GmbH Hahn‐Meitner‐Platz 1 14109 Berlin Germany
Felix Lang
Markus C. Scharber
Linz Institute for Organic Solar Cells/Institute of Physical Chemistry Johannes Kepler University Linz Linz Austria
Michael D. Kelzenberg
Harry A. Atwater
Martin Kaltenbrunner