Silicon solar cells are too heavy to be used in various space missions. Scientists are trying to solve this problem by working on alternative, lighter materials. He drew their attention to solar cells made from a thin layer of molybdenum selenide 2D TMDC.

The researchers created a prototype of a 2D TMDC device with efficiency up to 12%. According to them, it is not very profitable to use such panels, which are quite suitable for space, on Earth.

“The weight of 2D TMDC solar cells is 100 times less than the weight of silicon-based solar cells,” the scientists said.

2D TMDC type solar panels produce more electricity per unit weight. This property is called “specific strength”. This is because a layer only 3 to 5 nanometers thick absorbs the same amount of sunlight as conventional solar cells. Because of their extreme thinness, they are labeled 2D as they are considered “flat” because they are only a few atoms thick.

“High specific power is an advantage when it comes to any space-based light or energy harvesting technology,” says one member of the research team. “This is important not only for satellites or space stations, but also for real solar power in space.”

According to scientists, the number of solar cells that must be delivered during missions is so large that no launch vehicle can perform this mission in an economically profitable way.

The potential of 2D panels has not yet been fully realized, so the team of scientists is scrambling to increase their efficiency. The next step will be the organization of large-scale plate production for the production of a structure capable of collecting and transmitting energy in space. Source