Investigating the impact of lunar dust simulants deposition on the short-circuit current of a triple-junction GaInP/GaAs/Ge solar cell-based dust detector: a combined experimental and mathematical study

Yongjun Wang, Xiaoyan Ye, Hengtong Xu, Jianhong Zhuang, Siyuan Chang, Zhanzu Feng, Xiaodong Han, Xiaoqing Zhang, Chengxuan Zhao, Tiancheng Wen, Chao Zong, Jin Wang, Chao Zhou, Yi Wang, Chengdan He, Min Liu, Haiyan Zhang and Detian Li

Renewable Energy, 2025, vol. 248, issue C

Abstract: In this work, a lunar dust detector using a space triple-junction GaInP/GaAs/Ge solar cell equipped with a radiation-resistance silica coverslip and a bead-like thermometer is developed, and its response to the deposited lunar dust simulants under different light incidence angles is investigated experimentally. The results indicate that the short-circuit current reduction is not only deposition mass-dependent, but is also related to the light incidence angle, and a 50% reduction in short-circuit current was achieved by depositing approximately 3.0 mg/cm2 lunar dust simulants as the sunlight is incident normally. Finally, a physical model, according to the experimental results, was proposed to forecast the impact of dust deposition on the short-circuit current of the triple-junction GaInP/GaAs/Ge solar cell in the lunar surface environment. This model is in good agreement with the experiment results obtained at small incidence angles (0° ∼ 50°), with a relative error of less than 1% in this range. This work will help in designing future photovoltaic energy system for lunar surface application and developing strategies for dust mitigation on the lunar surface.

Keywords: Lunar dust detector; Solar cell; Short-circuit current; Deposition mass; Lunar dust simulants; Physical model (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:renene:v:248:y:2025:i:c:s0960148125007542

DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2025.123092

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