Beyond Earth: Resilience of Quasi-2D Perovskite Solar Cells in Space.

Abstract

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) offer unique advantages for space-based energy harvesting, combining cost-effective manufacturing with flexible, high power-to-weight devices that can reduce payload mass in deployable structures. Despite this promise, few reports have demonstrated the viability of this technology in realistic, space-based scenarios, where they are subjected to large temperature variations and hard radiation. Here, we present a comprehensive analysis of PSC performance in low Earth orbit (LEO). The champion rigid cell exhibited relatively stable in-orbit performance at ∼80% of initial efficiency over a 44-day measurement interval that concluded nearly 100 days after launch, corresponding to ∼1600 orbital eclipse cycles and temperature ranges from -25 to 35°C. Mission data was systematically compared with laboratory measurements of rigid and ultrathin flexible PSCs across temperatures from -80 to +80°C and upon exposure to high-energy proton radiation. Flexible devices retained over 92% efficiency after a proton dose equivalent to 50 years in orbit. Despite this radiation tolerance, mitigating pre-flight environmental degradation remains a challenge for ultrathin substrates. Combined, this study bridges the gap between short suborbital demonstrations and long-term orbital performance, highlighting the potential of PSCs as a low-cost, resilient alternative for light harvesting, even in harsh space environments.