Cosmic Shield Breakthrough can extend the lifespan of the room solar cells
A new radiation -resistant coating developed at the University of Surrey can considerably improve the sustainability of the next generation of perovskite solar cells in space. The innovation promises to make satellite solar panels lighter, more efficient and less more expensive than traditional alternatives.
Engineers from Surrey’s Advanced Technology Institute, in collaboration with Oxford University, the University of New South Wales and various South Korean institutions, have created a protective layer with propane-1.3-Diammonium Jodide (PDAI2). This thin film protects perovskite solar cells from demolition in the space environment, which usually includes intense radiation that is able to damage their organic components.
“Perovskite solar cells are promising for space, but the different sources of radiation in our solar system are still a major threat – especially for the organic molecules that make them work. Our coating helps to protect those fragile parts, so that they are demolished for longer,” said Dr Jae Sung Yun, said a good.
In order to evaluate the effectiveness of PDAI2, researchers simulated for two decades of exposure to low earth breaks by subjecting solar cells to intense proton radiation. Cells with the coating showed considerably better performance and structural integrity compared to untreated. The coating works by stabilizing vulnerable molecules, so that they can convert into gases such as hydrogen or ammonia that break down the efficiency of the cell.
Professor Ravi Silva, Director of the Advanced Technology Institute and Interim Director of the Surrey Institute for Sustainability, noted, “This project is a brilliant example of how our cross-institute collaborations can deliver real impact. By bringing together expertise from the Advanced Technology Institute, the Surrey Ion Beam Center, and the Institute for Sustainability, We’re Able to Tackle Complex Global Challenges – Like Developing the Next Generation of Clean Energy Technologies for Space. “
Research report:Improving the radiation federation of Wide-Band-Gap Perovskiet solar cells for space applications via A-Site KationStabilization with PDAI2
