The use of solar energy is becoming more and more important. A research team has developed a new type of thin solar cell that has more than 2 times the efficiency of existing 2D solar cells. If the new material goes into production, it could generate solar power for satellites and other spacecraft, both lighter and more efficiently.It could revolutionize space exploration.
When it comes to powering space exploration and settlements, conventional solar cells made from silicon or gallium arsenide are too heavy to be transported by rocket. To overcome this hurdle, scientists are exploring various alternatives to develop much thinner solar cells. Such solar cells are classified as 2D TMDC. Although they tend to have much lower efficiency compared to silicon-based solar panels, they can generate more power for their weight.100 times lighter
“I think people are slowly realizing that 2D TMDCs are excellent photovoltaic materials, but not for terrestrial applications, but for more flexible mobile applications like space-based applications,” says lead author Deep Jariwala of the University of Pennsylvania. 2D TMDC solar cells weigh 100 times less than silicon or gallium arsenide solar cells, so these cells become a very attractive technology for space. In this way, 2D TMDC becomes a technology with high potential for space vehicles, stations, bases to be established and space-based solar energy.More than double the productivity increase
The extreme thinness of 2D TMDC solar cells earns them the “2D” label because they are considered “flat” because they are only a few atoms thick. Specific power, or power-to-weight ratio, is seen as one of the biggest goals of any space-based light harvesting or energy harvesting technology. Therefore, solar panels that are both very light and yet efficient are critical for human existence in space.Today we are talking about space-based solar energy. The number of solar panels you have to send up is so large that no spacecraft can currently get such material there in an economically viable way. This is where 2D TMDC solar panels come into play. In tests, the team says it reached 12 percent values in 2D TMDC solar cells. Considering that the current efficiency is below 5 percent, the extent of the success is understandable. According to Jariwala, we will start to hear more of this technology in the next few years.
Last month, Japan’s JAXA announced that it aims to launch the first satellites for a commercial-scale solar farm in space by 2025. The European Space Agency also aims to reach space-based solar energy through its Solaris program. In fact, space-based solar energy was successfully transferred to Earth for the first time recently. With 2D TMDC solar panels, these processes seem to accelerate even more.
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