It has been done many times over the years when permanent bases on the moon are used as staging points for space exploration. Building a real moon facility in fact presents many important logistical challenges. Truly astronomical costs To send things into space.
new study It was published in the journal on April 3rd device The answer to the logistical challenge of at least one month suggests that it may literally lie in the month itself. This paper explores the idea of using lunar regolith, a thin layer of dust and small particles that cover the surface of the sun, and produces glass on solar panels. Moonglass, refined on the moon itself, is used as a shield for perovskite-based solar panels. The panels can be used as a source of electricity for the lunar facility.
What is Perovskite?
Perovskite is a General Terminology For materials with a cube structure similar to that of mineral perovskite. Their Possibility of use in solar cells mainly, advantage They are offered more than traditional silicon-based cells. In particular, perovskites have high potential efficiency, allowing theoretically the construction of panels that are significantly thinner and lighter than silicon cells.
Felix LangCo-author of (radiation)-acceptable electronics, with the Soft Semiconductor (ROSI) group of Potsdam’s Institute of Physics and Astronomy, and is the head of (radiation)-acceptable electronics.
[ Related: Solar panels are getting more efficient, thanks to perovskite. ]
He said this is[would] Saves over 99% of mass [compared to flying both glass and perovskites from Earth]. “Savings allow for the transport of large quantities of perovskites.
“Perovskite needs to have a thickness of less than 1 micron, so 1 kg is enough [or 2.2 pounds of perovskites] We can produce approximately 400m2 of solar cells,” says Lang.
Whether this idea is feasible depends on several factors. Most importantly, the compatibility of the regolith itself for making glass. The composition of the moon’s Regoliths varies depending on the latitude. The legoliths found in the lunar highlands are different It’s a bit subtle from something close to the equator.
To explain these latitude changes, the team created several samples designed to replicate the composition of regoliths and tested the compatibility of each sample to make glass. They discovered glass made from samples simulating Legiolis in the Highlands region of the Moon. Tubs-T of the namethere may be a great addition. Tubs-T could potentially solve major problems with solar panel operation in harsh lunar environments.
Radiation coefficient
space It’s over radiation. On the planet here we are protected from most of this by our atmosphere, but the moon has no such luck. That surface is received Approximately 200 times More radiation than our lovely home planet. This high-radiation environment is bad news for the human body, but it also affects other substances such as glass. When traditional glass is used in space, the relentless bombardment of radiation has unwelcome consequences. Over time, the glass tends to become darker and opaque.
Obviously, this is exactly about you Please don’t Glass used in the lunar solar panels must be highly radiation resistant.
“addition [iron oxide] Used for glass [to make] Special space glasses, [and] Cerium oxide works too,” explains Lang.
One of Definition characteristics of Tubs-T It is the presence of a small amount of iron(II) oxide. This impurity already has a slight brown tint and provides glass that is resistant to darkening. Thus, in theory, having a source of readily available materials that can be used to manufacture moon radiation resistant glass is a great bonus for a potential moon base.
Cost Calculation
Nevertheless, the long-term benefits of being able to manufacture glass on the month need to be weighed against the initial costs of establishing facilities that can. for example, The mirror must fly from Earthas well as all other important parts and infrastructure.
Lang says it’s not easy to estimate how long it will take for the former to surpass the latter. “At this stage, we don’t know how heavy the equipment is, as it depends on a lot of factors, such as production capacity.”
However, this study does so Model different scenarios The amount of electricity that needs to be generated for Moonglass/Perovskite ideas is simply because it is more efficient than delivering prefabricated panels from the Earth. You can find 3-10 megawatt sweet spots for solar power generation. At low levels, the shipping costs of production equipment are at lower levels, and at higher levels, the weight of the precursor material begins to affect.
[ Related: Future lunar bases could be built with LEGO moon bricks. ]
The Earth and the Moon Problems
Additionally, Lang says Moonglass will also help mitigate another potential problem. The relatively weak nature of perovskite-based solar cells.. Perovskite-based solar panels can achieve higher efficiency than traditional silicon-based panels.
Here, these solar cells suffer from instability issues, primarily due to environmental decomposition from moisture and oxygen. Although some of these issues are not found on the moon, lunar solar panels can face issues of UV sensitivity and heat shock sensitivity.
“These are the points we’re still working on,” Lang says. He points out that preliminary data from the team suggests that Moonglass is “a lot more elastic than ultraviolet light than quartz or glass-based perovskite solar cells.” [it] Reach the Perovskite. ”
In at least one point, Lang says that perovskite is ideal for extraterrestrial use. Even with its UV sensitivity, they are extremely radiation resistant.
“Perovskite… tolerate very large amounts of radiation that are undamaged. We call them radiation resistant. Resistant to radiation damagebut [to] actually After that, self-healing. ”
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