In the quest to explore and inhabit space and other worlds, one of the largest challenges astronauts face is having enough reliable energy. Now, a simple solution might literally be at their feet: moon dust.
Researchers have successfully created solar cells using simulated lunar dirt, potentially offering astronauts a sustainable energy source without needing to bring heavy materials from Earth.
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Scientists from the University of Potsdam in Germany, led by Felix Lang, turned simulated Moon dust—officially known as lunar regolith—into glass, aptly named "moonglass." They combined this moonglass with perovskite, a material known for efficiently turning sunlight into electricity. The result? A solar cell that drastically reduces weight and transport costs. Just by using lunar materials, spacecraft launch mass could be reduced by 99.4%, making missions cheaper and lunar settlements more realistic.
According to Lang, the current high-efficiency solar cells used in space are expensive and heavy. "Instead of ultra-efficient 30% solar cells, we can simply make more of them right there on the Moon,” says Lang. These new moon-based solar cells could generate up to 100 times more energy per gram than traditional panels brought from Earth.
Interesting article: Here’s a Clever idea. Build Moon Bases in Craters and then Fill them in with Lunar Regolith - (Universal-Sci)
Surviving Harsh Space Conditions
Another advantage of moonglass solar cells is their toughness. When tested against radiation levels typical in space, the lunar-made cells outperformed their Earth-made counterparts. While ordinary glass darkens over time in space, reducing its effectiveness, moonglass naturally contains impurities that prevent further darkening. This built-in resilience helps maintain the cell's efficiency despite constant exposure to radiation.
Making moonglass is surprisingly straightforward. It requires no complicated equipment, only concentrated sunlight to melt moon dust into usable glass. Currently, these solar cells reach about 10% efficiency, but researchers are optimistic they can achieve up to 23% with minor improvements.
However, before astronauts start powering lunar bases with moon dust solar cells, there are several hurdles to clear. The Moon's lower gravity, extreme temperature fluctuations, and vacuum environment all present challenges for manufacturing solar cells on-site. The researchers plan to send a small-scale test to the Moon to see if their technology truly holds up under real lunar conditions.
“From extracting water for rocket fuel to building houses from lunar bricks, moon dust is proving more useful than ever,” Lang says. “Now, we’re adding solar power to the list, potentially lighting up future Moon cities.”
If you are interested in more details about the research, be sure to check out the paper published in the peer-reviewed science journal Device, listed below this article.
Sources, further reading and more interesting articles:
Here’s a Clever idea. Build Moon Bases in Craters and then Fill them in with Lunar Regolith - (Universal-Sci)
What Is Moon Mining? - (Universal-Sci)
How do we colonize Jupiter's Moons? - (Unviersal-Sci)
Moon Photovoltaics utilizing Lunar Regolith and Halide Perovskites - (Device)
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