(Photo: Wikimedia Commons/Andrew Silver, USGS)
Scientists discovered a new material that can help power satellites or future space habitats.
Perovskite Solar Cells Have Self-Healing Properties When Exposed to Space's Radiation
Extreme radiation and harsh conditions characterize the space environment. Materials resistant to these environments are necessary for scientists building satellites and spacecraft. Scientists discovered a next-generation semiconductor material called metal-halide perovskite.
In a new study, a team of researchers conducted a radiation experiment by exposing perovskite solar cells to low and high energies. They noticed a unique property of the material: It can self-heal.
Researchers produce perovskites as inks, which they subsequently apply to plastic or glass plates to create thin, flexible, and light devices resembling films. Despite being nearly 100 times thinner than normal solar cells, these thin-film solar cells surprisingly outperform regular silicon solar cells in lab demonstrations.
If these coatings are exposed to oxygen or moisture, they may deteriorate. However, the researchers discovered a special, novel feature when they exposed perovskite solar cells to protons at both low and high energy—they have self-healing properties.
The device was able to recuperate and continue operating because the high-energy protons repaired the damage that the low-energy protons had inflicted. This healing is not observed in ordinary semiconductors used in space electronics.
Materials resistant to high radiation levels and able to self-heal could alter the game in space. According to research, up to 10,000,000 watts of power might be produced in space using just a few pounds of perovskite materials. Effective materials are crucial because it now costs roughly US$4,000 per kilogram ($1,818 per pound) to launch materials into space.
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What Is Metal Halide Perovskite?
Perovskite is a calcium titanate-based calcium titanium oxide mineral. It describes a crystal structure with three distinct ion-containing sites: A, B, and X.
As a subgroup of the perovskite family, metal halide perovskites (MHPs) have a wide range of possible ionic combinations, which allows for highly tunable properties. The A, B, and X sites of MHPs are frequently occupied by ions of the following elements/molecules:
- A: Caesium, Methylammonium, Formamidinium;
- B (the metal)" Lead, Tin;
- C: X (the halogen): Iodine, Bromine, Chlorine.
By varying the halide ion selection, one can modify the color of the light they generate. Since perovskite crystals are a form of soft material, their atoms can migrate into various states known as vibrational modes.
Perovskites typically have their atoms organized in a lattice structure. However, radiation has the power to rearrange atoms, harming the substance. Though the specific mechanism of this operation is still unknown, the vibrations may aid in realigning the atoms.
The potential for MHPs to produce solar cells that are more efficient than existing silicon-based designs and have a more comprehensive range of applications makes them an intriguing research issue. For instance, MHPs can absorb light far more efficiently than silicon, allowing for the creation of fragile solar cells. This would enable flexible solar cells, which may be used in drones, buildings, and phone screens, among other things!
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