Low Earth Orbit Radiation Tolerance of Perovskite-Silicon Tandem Photovoltaics

Here, we detail a study of proton radiation testing of perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells. We subjected perovskite-silicon tandems and silicon cells to a range of energies and fluences of proton radiation, chosen to be suitable for determining radiation damage specific to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) applications. We analyzed the performance post-radiation and investigated the loss mechanisms in cases where degradation was observed. By employing displacement damage calculations, we determine the extent to which radiation damage would impact performance as a function of time in LEO, with and without protective coverglass. We conclude that perovskite-silicon tandems can be resilient to the levels of radiation damage experienced in LEO, and are suitable for deployment in LEO for many years of operation.