Cuervo-Ortiz, J.M.; Palomares, J.C.G.; Ozen, S.; Härtel, M.; Sarisozen, S.; Dittwald, A.; Kourkafas, G.; Castro-Méndez, A.F.; Peña-Camargo, F.; Seid, B.A.; Bundesman, J.; Denker, A.; Neitzert, H.C.; Neher, D.; Stoll, E.; Linke, S.; Lang, F.: Moon photovoltaics utilizing lunar regolith and halide perovskites. Device 3 (2025), p. 100747/1-12
10.1016/j.device.2025.100747
Open Access Version
Abstract:
Powering future Moon settlements requires reliable and cost-effective energy generation with high specific power. Here, we propose halide perovskite photovoltaics (PV) fabricated on regolith-based moonglass that could be produced on the Moon, thereby saving 99% of material transport weight. This enables effective specific power ratios, over 22–50 W/g, a factor of 20–100 higher compared to traditional space PV solutions, while not compromising radiation shielding, reliability, and mechanical stability as done until now. Using anorthosite high-glass-forming regolith simulant, we achieve transparent moonglasses that allow depositing high-quality perovskites. We achieve performances on par with references, revealing the potential of perovskite-based Moon photovoltaics, and propose routes to achieve power conversion efficiencies of 23%. The moonglass exhibits high tolerance to high-energetic proton irradiation, which, when combined with the radiation tolerance of perovskites, allows highly radiation-tolerant, reliable devices paving the way to future sustainable lunar-energy solutions.