Evaluation of hypervelocity impact of micrometeoroids and orbital debris on next-generation space solar cells

This paper discusses the hypervelocity impacts of micrometeoroids and orbital debris (MMODs) on inverted metamorphic triple-junction (IMM3J) and perovskite solar cells, which are much thinner than conventional triple-junction (3J) solar cells. We experimentally found that IMM3J solar cells can suffer from short-circuit faults due to the hypervelocity impacts of MMODs, unlike conventional 3J cells, and determined the projectile diameters and velocities that could cause them using a model proposed by Burt. No short-circuit mode was identified in perovskite solar cells, but they had open-circuit faults several days after the hypervelocity impact experiment, which are possibly attributed to the decomposition of the perovskite crystal by moisture in the air due to the broken seal.

Automated summary

This paper discusses the impact of hypervelocity micrometeoroids and orbital debris (MMODs) on inverted metamorphic triple-junction (IMM3J) and perovskite solar cells. It was experimentally found that IMM3J solar cells can suffer from short-circuit faults due to MMOD impacts, unlike conventional 3J cells. Projectile diameters and velocities that could cause these faults were determined using a model proposed by Burt. Perovskite solar cells did not exhibit short-circuit faults but experienced open-circuit faults several days after the hypervelocity impact experiment, possibly due to moisture-induced decomposition of the perovskite crystal.