Armin Barthel News Today

Ultra-thin solar cells could extend the operational lifetimes of satellites while also making missions less costly and more efficient.

As low Earth orbit becomes more cluttered, it becomes increasingly necessary to use middle Earth orbits, and radiation-tolerant cell designs will be needed

Next-gen satellites need to be lighter and radiation-tolerant to travel beyond low-Earth orbit. This solar cell says “why not both?”

The majority of space satellites are powered by photovoltaic cells that convert sunlight to electrical energy. Direct exposure to particular types of radiation present in orbit can harm the devices, degrading their performance and restricting their lifetime.

The majority of space satellites have been powered by photovoltaic cells that have the potential to convert sunlight into electricity. Vulnerability to a few kinds of radiation existing in orbit could harm the devices, thereby deteriorating their performance and restricting their lifetime.

Scientists have developed a radiation-tolerant photovoltaic cell design that features an ultrathin layer of light-absorbing material.