CHEE Seminar: Lyndsey McMillon-Brown
Monday, October 3, 2022 – 3:00 p.m.
Lyndsey McMillon-Brown
Research Electrical Engineer
NASA Glenn Research Center
“Powering the Next Frontier: Manufacturing Solar Cells in Space"
Zoom link
ABSTRACT
In support of NASA's Artemis program with the goal of a sustained human-lunar presence, there is a need for very large (>100kW) and high-voltage-capable solar arrays, estimated to cost over $150M. Perovskite-based thin-film photovoltaics offer substantial advantages over state-of-the-art solar arrays from the perspective of manufacturing large arrays. Many of the challenges perovskite solar cells experience in terrestrial operations, e.g degradation caused by moisture and oxygen exposure, are not applicable in long-term space applications. The future of implementing perovskite photovoltaics in space is promising, further so is manufacturing these solar cells in space. Here we provide an overview of NASA Glenn Research Center's progress towards validating perovskite solar cells for operation in space and we illuminate innovation opportunities to which the greater community can contribute so that we may realize in-space manufacturing of perovskite photovoltaics.
BIOSKETCH
Dr. Lyndsey McMillon-Brown is a research electrical engineer at NASA Glenn Research Center where she focuses on solar cell materials development. She is currently the principal investigator of an Early Career Initiative developing a perovskite solar cells that can be manufactured in space and on the moon. Prior to joining NASA, Lyndsey earned her Ph.D. in chemical engineering at Yale University in 2019 where she researched novel materials and nano-patterns for advanced light trapping in solar cells. Lyndsey earned her BS in mechanical and manufacturing engineering from Miami University in Ohio in 2013.