Extreme space temperatures can be conquered by adding acid to solar crystals
Engineers have developed a way to protect space-bound solar cells from extreme temperature swings by reinforcing their crystal structures with specialized acids that prevent cracking in the vacuum of orbit.
Perovskite solar cells are the future of space power, boasting over 26% efficiency, but they face a major hurdle: the brutal temperature shifts of low Earth orbit. As satellites move from sunlight to shadow every 90 minutes, temperatures swing between -80'C and 80'C, causing metal-halide crystals to crack. To solve this, researchers have introduced alpha-lipoic acid into the cells. This acid polymerizes across the crystals, acting as a flexible glue that prevents defects from forming.
There's more to this story — open the app to keep reading.