Physicists Explore Promising Antimony-Based Solar Cell Technology for Use in Outer Space
January 27, 2026
By Nicki Gorny, University of Toledo | Edited by Lisa Lock | Reviewed by Robert Egan
In an effort to enhance solar energy harvesting for space missions, physicists at the University of Toledo are investigating emerging solar cell technologies that could withstand the harsh conditions of outer space. Their groundbreaking work focuses on solar cells made from antimony chalcogenides—compounds containing antimony and chalcogen elements—as a potential next-generation material for space-based photovoltaic applications.
Challenges of Solar Power in Space
Solar cells deployed in space face extreme environmental stresses, including wide temperature variations, intense particle radiation, and micrometeorite impacts. These conditions degrade the performance and durability of conventional photovoltaic materials, limiting the efficiency and operational lifetime of solar panels used in satellites, space stations, and exploratory spacecraft.
Antimony Chalcogenides Show Radiation Robustness
Researchers at the Wright Center for Photovoltaics Innovation and Commercialization at the University of Toledo have published a pioneering assessment in the journal Solar RRL, shedding light on the radiation tolerance of antimony chalcogenide solar cells. Their study highlights that solar cells based on these compounds exhibit superior resistance to proton radiation compared to conventional technologies currently flying in space.
“Antimony chalcogenide solar cells exhibit superior radiation robustness compared to the conventional technologies we’re deploying in space,” said Alisha Adhikari, a doctoral student in physics who co-led the interdisciplinary research team comprised of undergraduate, graduate, and faculty members. Despite their robust nature, the team acknowledges the need for significant improvements in energy conversion efficiency before these cells can become competitive with established solar technologies for space applications.
Advanced Research Backed by Air Force
This line of research is part of a larger initiative supported by the Air Force Research Laboratory, reflecting a strategic interest in developing durable, high-performance solar cells that can operate reliably in the extraterrestrial environment. The team is spearheaded by Dr. Randall Ellingson, Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy and holder of the Wright Center for Photovoltaics Innovation and Commercialization Endowed Chair. Collaborators include postdoctoral researcher Dr. Vijay Karade, doctoral students Alisha Adhikari and Scott Lambright, and faculty members Dr. Yanfa Yan and Dr. Zhaoning Song.
Toward Optimizing Solar Energy Harvesting in Space
The team’s ongoing efforts focus on overcoming the harsh conditions faced by solar cells beyond Earth. This includes designing materials capable of withstanding extreme temperatures and high levels of charged particle radiation, particularly protons, which can cause damage and loss of performance in conventional semiconductors.
Using simulations and experimental studies, the researchers examined how proton radiation interacts with thin-film antimony chalcogenide devices. Their findings, which were featured on the journal’s front cover, offer valuable insights into the radiation hardness and defect tolerance of this promising photovoltaic material system.
Future Prospects
While antimony chalcogenide-based solar cells currently boast enhanced radiation resilience, further improvements in material quality, device architecture, and energy conversion efficiency are needed to realize their full potential for satellite and deep-space missions. The researchers plan to continue exploring material properties using advanced deposition techniques and characterization tools at the Wright Center.
The study not only paves the way for more robust solar power solutions in space but also contributes to the broader field of nanostructured and compound semiconductor photovoltaics, with possible implications for terrestrial renewable energy technologies.
Reference
Alisha Adhikari et al., “Assessing Proton Radiation Hardness of Antimony Chalcogenide Solar Cells,” Solar RRL (2025). DOI: 10.1002/solr.202500699
For more updates on this research and other advances in solar technology, visit the University of Toledo’s Wright Center for Photovoltaics Innovation and Commercialization website.
This article has been fact-checked, proofread, and reviewed to ensure accuracy according to Science X’s editorial standards.
