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Energy Materials

Song et al. Energy Mater. 2026, 6, 600019 DOI:10.20517/energymater.2025.162

Perovskite solar cells for low earth orbit space
applications

Seyeong Song , Hye Won Cho , Harin Kim , Mihyun Kim , Gi-Hwan Kim 1,2,3,*
3
1,#
2,#
3
Keywords:
Perovskite solar cells, low
earth orbit, radiation
tolerance, space
photovoltaics, lightweight
Citation: Song, S.; Cho, H.
W.; Kim, H.; Kim, M.; Kim, G.
H. Perovskite solar cells for
low earth orbit space
applications. Energy Mater.
2026, 6, 600019.
https://dx.doi.org/10.20517
/energymater.2025.162

Received: 26 Sep 2025
First Decision: 25 Nov
2025
Revised: 19 Dec 2025 Abstract
Accepted: 7 Jan 2026
Published: 10 Feb 2026 Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are a promising next-generation photovoltaic (PV) technology
for space applications. Their high power-to-weight ratio, mechanical flexibility, and tunable
Academic Editors: optoelectronic properties make them particularly attractive for Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
Meicheng Li, Zhipeng Kan
Copy Editor: applications. PSCs demonstrate favorable behavior under low light and partial shading, as
Fangling Lan well as a unique self-healing response under certain space conditions. They also achieve
Production Editor: specific power densities of 23-30 W g , representing a 10-15× improvement over
-1
Fangling Lan
conventional silicon arrays (0.5-2 W g ) and 4-6× improvement over III-V multijunction
-1
cells (5.5 W g ), while maintaining > 92% efficiency retention under 1 × 10 e cm electron
16
-1
-2
irradiation. The key challenges and opportunities for PSCs in the LEO environment arise
from intense ultraviolet radiation, vacuum exposure, thermal cycling, and proton
irradiation. In this review, a comprehensive understanding of PSCs in the space
environment is presented, including recent strategies to improve efficiency, as well as
thermal and mechanical durability, while also addressing performance optimization and
space PV analysis. This overview highlights the potential of perovskite photovoltaics for
satellite power systems by enabling high-efficiency energy harvesting with minimal mass
and processing constraints, positioning PSCs as a promising new PV paradigm for the
coming decade.

1 Research Institute of Molecular Alchemy, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Republic of Korea.
2 College of Space and Aeronautics, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Republic of Korea.
3 Department of Materials Engineering and Convergence Technology, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Republic of Korea.
# Authors contributed equally.

*Correspondence to: Prof. Gi-Hwan Kim, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Gyeongsang National University, 501 Jinju-daero,
Jinju 52828, Republic of Korea. E-mail: ghkim@gnu.ac.kr

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