Cosmic protect breakthrough might prolong lifetime of area photo voltaic cells
by Sophie Jenkins
London, UK (SPX) Aug 01, 2025
A brand new radiation-resistant coating developed on the College of Surrey might considerably enhance the sturdiness of next-generation perovskite photo voltaic cells in area. The innovation guarantees to make satellite tv for pc photo voltaic panels lighter, extra environment friendly, and more cost effective than conventional alternate options.
Engineers from Surrey’s Superior Expertise Institute, in collaboration with Oxford College, the College of New South Wales, and a number of other South Korean establishments, have created a protecting layer utilizing propane-1,3-diammonium iodide (PDAI2). This skinny movie shields perovskite photo voltaic cells from degradation within the area surroundings, which generally consists of intense radiation able to damaging their natural elements.
“Perovskite photo voltaic cells are promising for area, however the numerous sources of radiation in our photo voltaic system are nonetheless a significant risk – particularly to the natural molecules that make them work. Our coating helps defend these fragile components, stopping them from breaking down and serving to the cells keep environment friendly for longer,” mentioned Dr Jae Sung Yun, a Lecturer in Power Expertise on the College of Surrey.
To judge PDAI2’s effectiveness, researchers simulated over twenty years of low-Earth orbit publicity by subjecting photo voltaic cells to intense proton radiation. Cells with the coating confirmed considerably higher efficiency and structural integrity in comparison with untreated ones. The coating works by stabilizing weak molecules, stopping them from changing into gases like hydrogen or ammonia that degrade the cell’s effectivity.
Professor Ravi Silva, Director of the Superior Expertise Institute and Interim Director of the Surrey Institute for Sustainability, famous, “This undertaking is an excellent instance of how our cross-institute collaborations can ship actual impression. By bringing collectively experience from the Superior Expertise Institute, the Surrey Ion Beam Centre, and the Institute for Sustainability, we’re capable of sort out advanced world challenges – like creating the following technology of unpolluted power applied sciences for area.”
Analysis Report:Enhancing radiation resilience of wide-band-gap perovskite solar cells for space applications via A-site cation stabilization with PDAI2
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