The proposed design could double the efficiency of lightweight solar cells for space-based applications.
When it comes to providing energy for space exploration and settlements, commonly available solar cells made of silicon or gallium arsenide are too heavy to be feasibly carried by rocket. To overcome this challenge, a wide variety of lightweight alternatives are being investigated, including solar cells made of a thin layer of molybdenum selenide, which fall into the broader category of 2D transition metal dichalcogenide (2D TMDC) solar cells. The researchers propose a device design that can increase the efficiency of 2D TMDC devices from 5% to 12%, as previously demonstrated.
