FLEXIBLE LIGHTWEIGHT MULTI-JUNCTION SOLAR CELLS AND MODULES WITH ENHANCED PERFORMANCE FOR EFFICIENT LIGHT HARVESTING IN OUTER SPACE

Introduction

The exponential growth of satellite launches and, in general, of in-orbit activities calls for technological breakthroughs in cost-effective solar energy harvesting technologies for space deployment.

Project Vision

JUMP INTO SPACE envisions a high-efficient, lightweight and flexible, stable, and sustainable alternative to currently available photovoltaic systems for in-space energy harvesting, via an unexplored synergetic coupling of groundbreaking concepts.

Technology Development

All-perovskite tandem solar cells, based on advanced contact materials and finely tuned perovskite absorbers, will be developed to ensure high efficiency:

1. Efficiency Target: 30% at AM0 targeted here, but capable of overcoming the single-junction Shockley–Queisser limit.
2. Substrate Design: The devices will be endowed with a pioneering, lightweight and flexible, multi-purpose photonic substrate, designed and optimized to embody the dual function of environment shielding and light management boost.
3. Stability: The substrate will be remarkably stable against high-energy radiation and atomic oxygen erosion.

Manufacturing and Testing

The optimized all-perovskite tandem solar cells will be manufactured on the multi-purpose photonic substrates and thoroughly tested to deliver unprecedentedly high specific power and prove their stability for space operation in low-orbit conditions.

Impact on Space Solar Power

JUMP INTO SPACE all-perovskite tandem cells on innovative multi-purpose photonic flexible substrates will be game-changers for the next generation of Space Solar Power. They will enable:

• Lightweight stowing in rollable platforms.
• Powering novel propulsion apparatus for in-space mobility.
• A wide range of spacecraft and applications, including systems for active debris removal, micro- and cube-sats.

Future Applications

These technologies could also be deployed in Space-Based Solar Power plants and, through novel, properly designed transmission technologies, power various in-space applications, such as:

1. Moon or Mars human bases.
2. Providing Earth with continuous energy from space.