University of Sydney Achieves World-Record 30.2% Efficiency in 10 cm² Perovskite-Silicon Tandem Solar Cell

August 9, 2026

pv-magazine.com Australia

Overview

Researchers at the University of Sydney have achieved an unprecedented 30.2% power conversion efficiency in a 10 cm² two-terminal monolithic perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell. This world-record efficiency, independently certified by CSIRO’s PV Performance Lab, was enabled by a unique hole-selective layer design that facilitates uniform and repeatable deposition of large-area perovskite films. This breakthrough significantly accelerates the practical commercialization of perovskite solar cells.

In Depth

Key Findings

Researchers at the University of Sydney in Australia have achieved a world-leading power conversion efficiency of 30.2% in a 10-square-centimeter (10 cm²) two-terminal monolithic perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell. This record efficiency has been independently certified by CSIRO’s PV Performance Lab, marking the highest value ever certified by the lab for this type of device. This achievement represents a significant milestone in the commercialization of perovskite solar cells.

Technical / Clinical Details

The research team engineered an innovative hole-selective layer that allows for the uniform and highly repeatable deposition of large-area perovskite films. This layer maximizes charge carrier transport efficiency while minimizing non-radiative recombination losses within the device, contributing directly to the high efficiency.
The two-terminal monolithic structure integrates the perovskite top cell and the silicon bottom cell directly, operating as a single device. This design simplifies manufacturing processes and enables high integration density, while also offering high compatibility with existing photovoltaic infrastructure.
Achieving 30.2% efficiency over a relatively large area of 10 cm² is particularly significant. While high efficiencies are often easier to attain in small-scale laboratory cells, overcoming the challenges of uniformity and reproducibility for larger, more practical scales represents a major hurdle in industrial application.

Background & Context

Perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells are a next-generation photovoltaic technology being developed globally, capable of surpassing the theoretical efficiency limit of conventional silicon single-junction solar cells (approximately 29%). With theoretical efficiencies expected to exceed 35%, the current achievement of 30.2% indicates that this technology is rapidly approaching practical viability. Higher efficiencies offer substantial economic benefits for residential, commercial, and utility-scale solar farms by enabling more power generation from a limited installation area.

Strategic Significance & Outlook

This breakthrough by the University of Sydney marks a critical juncture in the technological roadmap for perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells. The attainment of high efficiency over a larger area demonstrates the feasibility of achieving scalability and reproducibility, which were key challenges for mass production. Future efforts will likely focus on further improving long-term stability and conducting extensive durability tests to secure international certifications such as those from the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission). If successfully deployed commercially, this technology is expected to significantly transform the global solar power market, accelerating the adoption of more affordable and efficient renewable energy solutions and cementing Australia’s leadership in advanced PV research.

Source: https://now.solar/2026/08/04/australian-researchers-achieve-30-2-efficiency-for-10-cm2-perovskite-silicon-tandem-solar-cell-pv-magazine-com/

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