"Current space-grade solar cells can hit 30% to 40% efficiency, but they come with a hefty cost in both dollars and mass," explained Felix Lang of the University of Potsdam. "These cells rely on heavy glass or thick foils, and the expense of launching them into orbit is substantial."
Lang and his team propose bypassing these constraints by sourcing materials directly from the Moon. Their concept replaces terrestrial glass with moonglass-glass made from lunar regolith. According to their calculations, this switch could lower a mission's payload mass by up to 99.4% and reduce related transport expenses by 99%, paving the way for scalable energy infrastructure on the lunar surface.
To test their hypothesis, the researchers melted a synthetic version of Moon dust to create moonglass, then used it as the base for solar panels built with perovskite crystals. These materials are known for their low cost, ease of manufacture, and strong solar-to-electricity conversion capabilities. The resulting panels outperformed conventional ones in energy output per gram, delivering up to 100 times more energy for every unit of mass deployed.
"If you can reduce the weight by 99%, ultra-efficient 30% cells are no longer a requirement-you can just manufacture more of them on the Moon," said Lang. "And our prototypes are also more resilient to radiation, unlike conventional cells that degrade over time."
The team subjected the new solar cells to radiation levels typical of space environments. The results were promising: while standard glass darkens with exposure-hindering light transmission and efficiency-moonglass retains its performance. Its natural impurities give it a brown tint that resists further discoloration and stabilizes the material against radiation damage.
Fabricating moonglass proved to be straightforward. The process demands no complex purification steps, and the high temperatures needed for melting can be achieved using concentrated sunlight-an abundant resource on the Moon. With careful adjustments to glass thickness and the solar cell's internal structure, the team reached 10% efficiency. They project that more transparent moonglass could boost this to 23%.
Nevertheless, lunar manufacturing poses unique hurdles. The Moon's low gravity may alter how molten regolith solidifies. Existing perovskite processing techniques rely on solvents that evaporate poorly in a vacuum. Moreover, extreme temperature swings threaten material stability. To address these variables, the researchers plan to launch a small demonstration to the Moon, where their solar cells can be tested under actual lunar conditions.
"From building structures to extracting fuel, Moon dust is becoming a versatile tool for future missions," Lang noted. "Now, we may be able to turn it into solar cells as well, laying the groundwork for a self-sustaining lunar base."
Research Report:Moon photovoltaics utilizing lunar regolith and halide perovskites
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