Solar Cells Made from Moon Dust Could Power Future Space Missions
By Science Editor
The dirt on astronauts’ boots might one day power space exploration.
A study published on April 3 in Device journal shows that solar cells made from simulated Moon dust can efficiently convert sunlight into energy, resist radiation, and reduce the need for bringing heavy materials from Earth.
This could help solve a key challenge for space missions: finding reliable energy sources.
Current solar cells used in space are efficient (30% to 40%), but they are expensive and heavy because they use glass or thick foil. Felix Lang, lead researcher from the University of Potsdam, Germany, says these materials are hard to justify launching into space.
Instead of sending solar cells from Earth, Lang’s team is exploring materials from the Moon. They aim to replace glass with moonglass—glass made from lunar dust. This could reduce spacecraft weight by 99.4%, lower launch costs by 99%, and make long-term Moon settlements more possible.
To test this, the researchers melted a material simulating Moon dust into moonglass and used it to make solar cells.
They combined moonglass with perovskite crystals, which are cheaper and efficient at converting sunlight. The new solar panels produced up to 100 times more energy per gram than traditional ones.
Lang explains that with 99% less weight, you don’t need super-efficient solar cells. Plus, these new cells are more stable against space radiation. Unlike Earth-made glass, which darkens and loses efficiency over time, moonglass resists further darkening and radiation damage due to impurities in the Moon dust.
Making moonglass is simpler than expected. It doesn’t require complex purification, and the Moon’s sunlight can provide the heat needed to melt lunar dust.
By adjusting the moonglass thickness and solar cell composition, the team achieved 10% efficiency. They believe they could reach 23% efficiency with clearer moonglass that lets in more light.
However, the Moon’s low gravity, temperature swings, and vacuum could affect the solar cells. To test their feasibility, the team plans to send a small experiment to the Moon.
Lang says, “From extracting water for fuel to building houses with Moon bricks, scientists have found ways to use Moon dust. Now, we can turn it into solar cells, potentially providing energy for future Moon cities.”
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