By creating solar cells from simulated moon dust, scientists may have found a solution to the problem of producing dependable energy at a distance from Earth.
Compared to conventional solar panels, these new cells are lighter, less expensive, and more radiation-resistant because they combine perovskite and moonglass.
Scientists Create Solar Cells Using Simulated Moon Dust
One significant advantage is that there would be less need to launch materials from Earth because these solar panels could be produced directly on the Moon.
According to Felix Lang of the University of Potsdam, “The solar cells used in space now are amazing, reaching efficiencies of 30% to even 40%, but that efficiency comes with a price.”
Due to materials like glass or thick foil, current solar panels are costly and heavy, making them challenging to transport into space.
By replacing Earth-made glass with lunar regolith, Lang’s team suggested lowering launch mass by 99.4% and transportation expenses by 99%.
They created lightweight solar cells that generated up to 100 times more energy per gram than conventional ones by melting a simulant of moon dust into glass and combining it with perovskite.
“If you cut the weight by 99%, you don’t need ultra-efficient 30% solar cells, you just make more of them on the Moon,” Lang said.
In laboratory tests, the new moonglass solar cells outperformed conventional ones in terms of stability under space radiation. Over time, standard glass used in space tends to brown, which lowers performance. However, moonglass’s inherent brown tint helps it stay effective and withstand additional darkening.
Making moonglass is surprisingly easy because concentrated sunlight can produce the high temperatures needed to melt Moon dust and there is no need for complicated purification.
With their current configuration, the team was able to achieve 10% efficiency; however, they believe that with clearer moonglass, they can achieve 23% efficiency.
Moon’s Lower Gravity May Have an Impact on Glass Formation
There are still issues: the Moon’s lower gravity may have an impact on glass formation, and the solvents currently used to process perovskites won’t function in a vacuum.
Long-term cell stability may be impacted by the Moon’s temperature extremes (+100°C to -170°C), but moonglass might provide the necessary toughness.
“From extracting water for fuel to building houses with lunar bricks, scientists have been finding ways to use Moon dust,” said Lang. “Now, we can turn it into solar cells too, possibly providing the energy a future Moon city will need.”
The study, titled “Moon photovoltaics utilizing lunar regolith and halide perovskites,” was published on April 3, 2025, in the journal Device.
The work was supported by the Volkswagen Foundation through the Freigeist Q14 Program.
