Study shows Moon soil can power solar panels with perovskite tech

Researchers from multiple German and Italian institutions studied the potential of halide perovskite photovoltaics on the Moon. They proposed fabricating these PVs on regolith-based moonglass made locally, reducing transport weight by 99%. The approach achieved specific power ratios between 22 and 50 W/g, significantly higher than traditional space PVs. Using anorthosite-based regolith simulant, they produced transparent moonglass suitable for perovskite deposition. Device performance matched existing references. Projected power conversion efficiency was 23%. As per study, Both the moonglass and perovskites showed high radiation tolerance. The team also demonstrated that moonglass served as substrate and encapsulation, enabling fabrication of moonglass/perovskite solar cells with minimal Earth-supplied materials. The process required limited equipment and achieved low energy payback times. Their hybrid approach avoided material-intensive semiconductor processing and offered a resilient solution for lunar solar energy generation.