UK engineers create solar shield that survive harsh space radiation

UK engineers at the University of Surrey have developed a novel protective coating, termed a “cosmic veil,” designed to shield perovskite solar cells (PSCs) from the harsh radiation environment of space. This coating, made from propane-1,3-diammonium iodide (PDAI₂), stabilizes the fragile organic molecules within PSCs that are typically vulnerable to damage from proton irradiation and other space radiation sources such as galactic cosmic rays and solar energetic particles. By preventing these organic components from breaking down into gases that weaken the cells, the coating helps maintain the cells’ efficiency and structural integrity over long durations. Testing demonstrated that PSCs treated with this coating sustained significantly less efficiency loss and internal damage when exposed to radiation levels simulating over 20 years in low-Earth orbit. This breakthrough addresses a major limitation of PSCs in space applications, where durability and radiation tolerance are critical. While multi-junction III-V solar cells currently dominate space power systems due to their performance