ICN2 Collaborates with NASA to Test Perovskite Solar Cells in the Stratosphere

by Chema Arcos

This project will provide promising insights into the potential of this technology as an efficient alternative to traditional solar cells in space technology.

The ICN2 Nanostructured Materials for Photovoltaic Energy (NMPE) Group, led by CSIC Research Prof. Mónica Lira-Cantú, has achieved a key success in advancing solar energy technologies. In collaboration with the National University of Engineering (UNI) in Peru and NASA's High Altitude Student Platform (HASP), the researchers launched perovskite solar cells (PSCs) into the stratosphere to evaluate their stability and performance under extreme conditions.

The project was a multi-actor international collaboration. Kenedy Tabah Tanko, PhD student at ICN2, was responsible for fabricating and encapsulating the PSCs, under the supervision of Prof. Monica Lira-Cantu. Meanwhile, the payload, designed to measure the cells' performance in flight, was crafted by UNI students, under the supervision of Dr Mónica Marcela Gómez. Finally, the NASA Balloon Program Office (BPO) and the Louisiana Space Consortium (LaSPACE) provided the platform for the experiment, allowing the PSCs to be launched 36 km into the stratosphere from New Mexico, USA.

Mission objectives

This spaceflight was designed to investigate the efficiency and durability of PSCs under conditions of high UV radiation and extreme temperatures (down to -30°C). Data collected during the flight will inform future innovations in PSC stability, particularly for space and high-altitude environments.

The launch represents an important step in understanding how PSCs respond to stratospheric stressors and offers promising insights into their potential as a lightweight, low-cost alternative to traditional III-V multijunction solar cells in space technology. It also highlights the potential of PSCs for space applications.

ICN2 continues to lead the way in solar cell innovation, demonstrating the power of interdisciplinary and international collaboration to address global challenges.