Chinese Researchers Set New World Record: 28.04% Steady-State Efficiency Achieved in Perovskite-Organic Tandem Solar Cells

chinadaily.com.cn / Global Times China

Overview

A team of Chinese scientists has achieved a new world record with a certified steady-state power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 28.04% for perovskite-organic tandem solar cells. This innovative device boasts lightweight, flexible, and low-temperature processability, crucially overcoming internal chemical segregation issues. Demonstrating high stability by retaining 90% of its initial performance after 625 hours of continuous illumination, this breakthrough expands potential applications across BIPV, portable electronics, drones, and space technology.

In Depth

Background

Global demand for solar power is surging, necessitating new technologies that can surpass the efficiency limits of conventional crystalline silicon solar cells. Perovskite solar cells have garnered significant attention due to their high theoretical efficiency and low manufacturing costs. However, their long-term stability, particularly when integrated with organic materials in tandem architectures, has remained a substantial hurdle for widespread commercialization.

Key Findings

A team of Chinese scientists has achieved a new world record with a certified steady-state power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 28.04% for perovskite-organic tandem solar cells. This pioneering device is not only lightweight, flexible, and capable of low-temperature printing, but it has also successfully overcome the long-standing challenge of internal chemical segregation. Perovskite-organic tandem solar cells are designed to efficiently absorb the full solar spectrum by utilizing perovskite materials for short-wavelength light and organic materials for longer wavelengths. The critical advancement in this research lies in optimizing the interface between these layers to maximize charge transport and minimize degradation. The team innovatively suppressed light-induced phase segregation—a common degradation mechanism—through novel material design and precise process control, leading to dramatically enhanced device stability. This is further evidenced by the device retaining 90% of its initial performance after 625 hours of continuous illumination. The low-temperature manufacturing process also reduces energy consumption and facilitates application on flexible substrates. This achievement provides a practical solution to simultaneously improve both efficiency and stability, crucial for commercialization. Its lightweight and flexible characteristics, combined with record-breaking efficiency and excellent stability, significantly broaden the potential of next-generation solar cells for diverse applications such as building facades, windows, portable devices, electric vehicles, building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), drones, and even future space power systems. This breakthrough is poised to accelerate renewable energy deployment and contribute substantially to global decarbonization efforts.

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