A study led by researchers from i3N Aveiro has demonstrated the potential of CIGS-based solar cells for space applications. The work, which involved simulating the effects of radiation on the performance of these cells and studying recovery methodologies, confirms their viability for use in satellites and other equipment in orbit.
Led by Joaquim Leitão, Tiago Fernandes, Pedro Patrício and António Cunha, all researchers from Institute for Nanostructures, Nanomodelling and Nanofabrication (i3N), one of UAveiro's research units, the study, already published in the journal ACS Applied Energy Materials, first aimed to simulate the impact of exposing CIGS solar cells to space radiation in a laboratory environment. These solar cells have a thin film made up of copper, indium, gallium and selenium as the absorbing layer for solar radiation, which is the key layer for converting sunlight into electricity.
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