Peeking inside LiFiCo experiment

This physical chemistry experiment investigates how to coat solar cells onto glass for sustainable energy solutions. LiFiCo studies the microstructure produced during liquid coating, and is is run by Karlstad University in Sweden.

The experiment took a ride on the SubOrbital Express-4 sounding rocket that launched from the Esrange Space Center outside Kiruna, in the north of Sweden, at 06:00 CET on 26 November 2024. The rocket reached an altitude of 256 km before falling back to Earth and providing approximately six minutes of microgravity to the scientific experiments onboard.

During the rocket ride, scientists coated a glass substrate with a special organic solution, capturing the precise moment of microstructure formation.

By observing how these delicate solar cell layers develop in a weightless environment, researchers aim to unlock new techniques for producing solar technologies that could be significantly more efficient.