Tailoring bandgap and electron affinity of spacecraft dielectrics for synergistic solar array charging and discharge suppression
4 affiliations
- 1State Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Power Equipment, School of Electrical Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
- 2Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), School of Engineering, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland; Corresponding author
- 3National Key Laboratory of Science and Technology on Vacuum Technology and Physics, Lanzhou Institute of Physics, Lanzhou 730000, China
- 4State Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Power Equipment, School of Electrical Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China; Corresponding author
Abstract
As the core power source for spacecraft in orbit, the reliability of solar arrays (SAs) critically determines mission success. However, the increasingly severe spacecraft charging-discharging issue under complex space environments restricts next-generation high-voltage, high-power spacecraft. Current mitigation strategies rely largely on process-based measures such as adhesive coating, while the physical mechanisms and a material-based mitigation framework remain underexplored. We systematically investigate the roles of the bandgap and electron affinity of coverglasses in SAs during surface charging-discharging using theoretical modeling, numerical simulation, and experimental validation. Under high-energy electron irradiation, bandgap governs internal secondary electron generation, whereas electron affinity controls true secondary electron emission. Increasing both reduces surface charging potential differences and suppresses secondary electron yield, mitigating electrostatic discharge risk. This work reveals intrinsic links between material band parameters and charging-discharging dynamics, offering guidance for dielectric material selection and modification in high-power spacecraft.
Related
- Synergistic Suppression of Ionic Conduction and Lattice Thermal Conductivity Through Trigonally Coordinated [CuI 3 ] 2− Units and Zero‐Dimensionality in Cs 3 Cu 2 I 5
- High Energy Density Plasma Nanorod by Collisionless Absorption of Ultrafast Laser Pulse Inside Dielectrics
- Mathematical framework for simulation of non-perturbative cavity optomechanics with plate-like dielectrics
- Nonperturbative optomechanics with thin, weakly reflective intracavity dielectrics
- Split Coaxial Cable Medium for Tunable Artificial Dielectrics and Plasmas
BibTeX
@article{qi2026tailoring,
title = {{Tailoring bandgap and electron affinity of spacecraft dielectrics for synergistic solar array charging and discharge suppression}},
author = {Changchun Qi and Haoyan Liu and Guangyu Sun and Xiong Yang and Ke Li and Huapeng Li and Sheng Zhou and Wenrui Li and Xiaogang Qin and Baipeng Song and Guanjun Zhang},
journal = {Cell Reports Physical Science},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1016/j.xcrp.2026.103620},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xcrp.2026.103620},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Tailoring bandgap and electron affinity of spacecraft dielectrics for synergistic solar array charging and discharge suppression
AU - Changchun Qi
AU - Haoyan Liu
AU - Guangyu Sun
AU - Xiong Yang
AU - Ke Li
AU - Huapeng Li
AU - Sheng Zhou
AU - Wenrui Li
AU - Xiaogang Qin
AU - Baipeng Song
AU - Guanjun Zhang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/31
JO - Cell Reports Physical Science
DO - 10.1016/j.xcrp.2026.103620
UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xcrp.2026.103620
AB - As the core power source for spacecraft in orbit, the reliability of solar arrays (SAs) critically determines mission success. However, the increasingly severe spacecraft charging-discharging issue under complex space environments restricts next-generation high-voltage, high-power spacecraft. Current mitigation strategies rely largely on process-based measures such as adhesive coating, while the physical mechanisms and a material-based mitigation framework remain underexplored. We systematically investigate the roles of the bandgap and electron affinity of coverglasses in SAs during surface charging-discharging using theoretical modeling, numerical simulation, and experimental validation. Under high-energy electron irradiation, bandgap governs internal secondary electron generation, whereas electron affinity controls true secondary electron emission. Increasing both reduces surface charging potential differences and suppresses secondary electron yield, mitigating electrostatic discharge risk. This work reveals intrinsic links between material band parameters and charging-discharging dynamics, offering guidance for dielectric material selection and modification in high-power spacecraft.
SN - 2666-3864
ER -