University of Al-Karkh for Science Team Publishes in Renewable Energy (Q1): Designing Radiation-Hard Solar Cells for Spacecraft and Satellites

A research team from Al-Karkh University for Science, authored by Lect. Dr. Mustafa Kareem, Asst. Lect. Bassam Thaaban Hamoud, and Asst. Prof. Dr. Ithar Yahya, has published a paper in Renewable Energy (Q1 in Clarivate and Scopus; CiteScore 17.6; Impact Factor 9.1). The study presents the design of solar cells for spacecraft and satellites and evaluates their resilience to space radiation, including protons, electrons, and heavy ions, across low- and high-Earth orbits. The International Space Station (ISS) is highlighted as a realistic reliability testbed.

The work implements a multi-physics workflow that couples device and radiation–matter interaction simulations: SCAPS-1D for cell modeling, SRIM/TRIM for ion tracks and atomic displacements, SPENVIS for orbital radiation environments, and TALYS 2.0 for nuclear reaction products and activation. The calculations show that the induced radioactivity is vanishingly small under typical spacecraft shielding and does not pose a safety risk to power systems.

This achievement strengthens the standing of the College of Remote Sensing and Geophysics in high-caliber, peer-reviewed venues and reflects the university’s growing impact in advanced space-energy research.

Article: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148125022359?dgcid=coauthor
Journal: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/renewable-energy