Stabilizing perovskite solar cells for space applications

Abstract

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) offer transformative potential for space photovoltaics with exceptional specific power (up to 50,000 W/kg without encapsulation), tunable bandgaps for high-efficiency tandems (> 35% for perovskite/Si, > 31% for all-perovskite), intrinsic radiation self-healing and low-temperature solution processing. These attributes enable dramatic reductions in launch mass and cost for satellite constellations, space stations, orbital computing centers, space solar power station (SSPS) and deep-space probes. However, the extreme space environment: high-temperature illumination (AM0, 90 °C > 25,000 h in 5-year LEO missions), intense thermal cycling (− 100 ℃ to + 100 °C, > 25,000 cycles in 5-year LEO missions), high-flux UV (10 W/m2 UV-B, 45 W/m2 UV-A), proton irradiation (50–250 keV), vacuum and atomic oxygen demands far exceeding stability requirements for terrestrial applications. This review systematically analyzes two core bottlenecks: temperature stability and radiation stability. For thermal challenges, we detailly discuss failure mechanisms (interfacial stress, phase transitions, ion migration) and advances made in compositional engineering, transport-layer regulation, inorganic interfaces, additives, CTE-matched substrates, and encapsulation. For radiation tolerance, we analyze UV-induced degradation and mitigation via down-conversion layers, NiOx/SAM engineering, all-inorganic compositions, and dynamic additives, alongside proton damage mechanisms and countermeasures, including self-healing, tandem electrical shielding, and high-Z additives. Ground-based simulation frameworks and testing platforms are evaluated, highlighting pathways toward standardized space protocols. This review provides a comprehensive roadmap for realizing long-lifetime, high-reliability perovskite space photovoltaics.