Perovskite and organic hybrid solar cells have been tested in space for the first time as part of a European research programme and found to be far superior to silicon-based solar cells. Two types of perovskite-organic cell were tested on a rocket, which reached a height of nearly 240 kilometres, as part of the MAPHEUS 8 program at the European Space and Sounding Rocket Range in Kiruna, Sweden, in collaboration with the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) and the Technical University of Munich (TUM).

“Electrical measurements during the flight and the evaluation after recovery of the rocket showed [the cells] can achieve their potential in terms of expected performance in orbit height,” reports professor Peter Müller-Buschbaum at TUM’s Department of Physics in a press release.

The significance of the experiment goes far beyond space flight. Almost all satellites are powered by solar cells for example. But the high performance solar cells used are heavy – they can generate up to three watts of electricity per gram, while perovskite and organic hybrid cells could provide up to ten times that amount.

“The best perovskite solar cells currently achieve efficiency levels of 25 percent,” says Müller-Buschbaum. “These thin solar cells, less than one micrometre thick, applied to ultra-thin, flexible synthetic sheet, are extremely lightweight. They can therefore produce nearly 30 watts per gram.” Furthermore, the organic solution used for light conducting can be manufactured at room temperature, whereas inorganic silicon cells require high temperatures to produce and involve costly complex processes.

Critically, it was found that the new thinner solar cells generated electricity even when they were turned away from sunlight, which means that the technology could be used in dimmer light, for example space missions outside the solar system, or back on earth in a range of other sectors.