Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) could provide new low-cost
opportunities
for powering spacecraft. We are designing a PSC resilient to lunar
surface conditions, focusing on contact/barrier layers combinations
that maximize stability. Thermal vacuum stress shows cells with gold
back-contacts and SiO
x
protection retain
>90% of initial efficiency and indium tin oxide (ITO)-contacted
cells
retain ∼100% of initial efficiency after five months of stress.
SiO
x
mitigates mechanical aspects of contact
stress, retaining 99% of initial efficiency, whereas cells with silicone/cover
glass decreased 27%. We further exposed cells to combined illumination,
75 °C heat, and 10–6 Torr vacuum for 24 h and
found that ITO-contacted cells outperformed Au-contacted cells.