Mohammed Shaan Mubeen Nadaf

Aerospace engineering

Hometown: Tempe, Arizona, United States

Graduation date: Fall 2026

Additional details: First-generation college student

FURI | Fall 2024, Summer 2024

A Multi-Pronged Approach to Understanding Environmental Stability Challenges in Perovskite Photovoltaics

This research investigates the effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation on the stability and longevity of methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI3) perovskite materials, aiming to determine their potential for use in space applications.

Preliminary results indicate that methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI3) perovskites degrade most significantly under UVC radiation (UVC radiation is high-energy ultraviolet light , with a wavelength of 245-270 nm, that is highly damaging but is mostly absorbed by the Earth’s atmosphere), while showing greater resilience under UVA (350-435 nm) and UVB (290-360 nm) exposures. The experiments involve aging the perovskite films in air without any encapsulation or protection, highlighting their vulnerability to environmental factors. This degradation poses a challenge to replacing modern, expensive solar cells with perovskites for future space missions.

Understanding the degradation patterns of perovskites under these specific conditions is crucial for developing more resilient materials. This research provides insights into improving the durability of perovskites, potentially contributing to more cost-effective and efficient solar energy solutions in space.

Further studies will explore different perovskite compositions and encapsulation mechanisms to enhance resilience. Additionally, the potential for perovskites to self-heal under various combinations of UV exposure will be investigated.

Mentor: Nick Rolston