99% savings: Radiation-proof solar cells made from moon dust to power lunar bases
The same dust that settles on astronauts’ boots might one day provide energy for their Moon habitats. Researchers have developed solar cells crafted from simulated Moon dust that efficiently convert sunlight into electricity, withstand radiation damage, and reduce the need to transport heavy materials into space.
This breakthrough could address one of space exploration’s biggest challenges: ensuring a reliable energy source for future lunar settlements.
“The solar cells used in space now are amazing, reaching efficiencies of 30% to even 40%, but that efficiency comes with a price,” says lead researcher Felix Lang of the University of Potsdam, Germany.
“They are very expensive and are relatively heavy because they use glass or a thick foil as cover. It’s hard to justify lifting all these cells into space.”
Rather than sending solar panels from Earth, Lang’s team is diving into exploration aimed toward existing materials on the Moon. They aim to replace Earth-made glass with ‘moonglass,’ or glass derived from lunar regolith. This shift alone could cut a spacecraft’s launch mass by 99.4%, lower transport costs by 99%, and make long-term lunar settlements more feasible.
Moonglass solar cells: Lightweight, efficient, radiation-resistant
To try their idea, the researchers melted simulated moon dust into moonglass and constructed a new type of solar cell. They then paired moonglass with perovskite—a range of highly efficient, low-cost solar materials. With these new cells, it was possible to generate up to a hundred times more energy for every gram sent to space when compared to conventional space solar panels.
“If you cut the weight by 99%, you don’t need ultra-efficient 30% solar cells, you just make more of them on the Moon,” says Lang. “Plus, our cells are more stable against radiation, while the others would degrade over time.”
Radiation is a major challenge for solar panels in space. Over time, standard glass darkens from radiation exposure, blocking sunlight and reducing efficiency. But moonglass, already naturally tinted by moon dust impurities, remains stable and resists further darkening, giving it a distinct advantage.
Simple manufacturing, big potential
Another major benefit is that moonglass is easy to manufacture. It does not require complicated purification processes, and concentrated sunlight can melt lunar regolith into glass. By refining the glass’s thickness and the solar cells’ composition, the team achieved 10% efficiency, which is a promising start.
The researchers think that using clearer moonglass will enable efficiency to reach 23%, making it comparable to solar panels made on Earth.
Still, challenges remain. The Moon’s lower gravity could affect how moonglass forms, the solvents used for perovskite processing won’t work in a vacuum, and extreme temperature swings could threaten material stability. To test their solar cells in real lunar conditions, the researchers hope to send a small-scale experiment to the Moon.
“From extracting water for fuel to building houses with lunar bricks, scientists have been finding ways to use Moon dust,” says Lang. “Now, we can turn it into solar cells too, possibly providing the energy a future Moon city will need.”
Source: Interesting Engineering
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99% savings: Radiation-proof solar cells made from moon dust to power lunar bases/99% savings: Radiation-proof solar cells made from moon dust to power lunar bases