According to "Nihon Keizai Shimbun" reported on May 21st, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and the specially-appointed professor Miyajiri of Yokohama University of Tonkin have jointly developed a 'perovskite type photovoltaic cell' that can make photovoltaic cells for satellites. The cost is reduced to 1/10. New batteries can be easily manufactured using printing technology. Due to their thinness and flexibility, the batteries can be extended to a large area after the launch of the satellite. It is planned to launch an empirical test in space several years later and will cooperate with Ricoh et al. Business cooperation, and strive to promote the practical.
The development of satellites and rockets for private enterprises has become increasingly active. Various companies have devoted themselves to low-cost production through the use of household appliances and parts. At present, satellite-based photovoltaic cells are dominated by semiconductors such as silicon, but their manufacturing processes are complex and they sometimes account for satellites. More than 10% of the cost.
Perovskite-type photovoltaic cells are printed on a substrate using a specific substance that has a perovskite crystal structure. This enables a new generation of photovoltaic cells to be manufactured at low cost, which helps to reduce the satellite manufacturing cost.
The research team took into account the space environment, using materials that are not easily damaged, and trial-produced small-scale solar cells. The experiment was designed on the basis of a geostationary satellite and irradiated 10-year radiation in several hours to test the durability of the battery. Sexuality. The conversion efficiency of traditional photovoltaic cells from light to electricity will be reduced by about 40%, while the perovskite type is only reduced by about 10%.
The thickness of the photovoltaic cell will be reduced to one-tenth of the previous one, less than 1 micron (micron to one millionth of a million). It is small and can be folded, and can expand after reaching space. The weight has also dropped to the previous one hundredth. , It is expected to further reduce the launch cost.
However, the photoelectric conversion efficiency of the new battery is currently only about 5%, and will be improved in the future. The research team will try to make a large-scale battery board. It is assumed that in the actual launch environment, the durability under the influence of temperature change and violent vibration will be investigated.