Southeast University Boosts Perovskite Solar Cell Stability & Efficiency with Electron-Resonance SAM: 27.69% Small-Area, 23.63% Large-Area Achieved

July 26, 2026

SEU News Network China

Overview

A research team at Southeast University has significantly improved both the stability and efficiency of perovskite solar cells by incorporating a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) with a powerful ‘electron-resonance’ structure in the interface layer. This innovation led to a 27.69% power conversion efficiency (PCE) for small devices (0.063 cm²) and 23.63% for larger module devices (15.64 cm²). Crucially, the cells demonstrated remarkable long-term stability, maintaining over 90% of initial efficiency under extreme conditions like -40°C to 85°C temperature cycling and 85°C thermal aging with illumination, overcoming a major barrier to commercialization.

In Depth

Key Findings

Researchers at Southeast University have achieved a significant breakthrough in perovskite solar cell technology by simultaneously enhancing both efficiency and long-term stability. Their innovative approach involved designing and incorporating a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) with a robust ‘electron-resonance’ structure into the interface layer of the solar cells. This led to an impressive 27.69% power conversion efficiency (PCE) for small-area devices (0.063 cm²), positioning it among the highest reported. Furthermore, a module-level device with a practical area of 15.64 cm² achieved a PCE of 23.63%. Critically, these devices exhibited unprecedented stability, retaining over 90% of their initial efficiency after prolonged operation under harsh conditions, including temperature cycling from -40°C to 85°C and thermal aging at 85°C with continuous illumination. This addresses one of the most significant challenges hindering the commercialization of perovskite solar cells.

Technical / Clinical Details

The developed SAM is precisely engineered and strategically positioned between the perovskite layer and the charge transport layer. The ‘electron-resonance’ structure within this SAM is key to its dual function: it optimizes the transport of charge carriers while effectively suppressing non-radiative recombination at the interface. This optimization leads to an improvement in both the open-circuit voltage (Voc) and fill factor (FF), contributing to the high PCE. More importantly, the SAM acts as a protective barrier, inhibiting degradation pathways of the perovskite material. It specifically prevents the decomposition of the perovskite structure caused by external environmental factors such as humidity, oxygen, and heat, dramatically extending the device’s operational lifetime. Detailed experimental data confirmed that devices incorporating this SAM maintain their structural integrity and performance even when exposed to extreme temperature variations and prolonged high-temperature illumination.

Background & Context

Perovskite solar cells have garnered significant attention as a promising next-generation photovoltaic technology due to their potential for high efficiency and low-cost manufacturing, often rivaling or exceeding conventional silicon solar cells. However, the inherent instability of perovskite materials has been the primary impediment to their commercial viability. Previous research often involved a trade-off between efficiency and stability, but the work by Southeast University suggests a pathway to overcome this limitation. Demonstrating stability under a wide range of temperature cycles and thermal aging is crucial for ensuring a practical lifespan in real-world applications, making this technology’s impact on the future solar market potentially transformative. This breakthrough could pave the way for widespread adoption of perovskite solar cells in residential, industrial, and specialized energy applications.

Strategic Significance & Outlook

This breakthrough from Southeast University marks a substantial advancement towards the commercialization of perovskite solar cells. The confirmed improvement in stability enhances confidence in future mass production, long-term warranties, and deployment in diverse environmental conditions. The research team will likely focus on scaling this SAM technology to larger modules and further streamlining manufacturing processes to reduce costs. This achievement also offers new design principles for enhancing stability in other perovskite materials and device architectures. Widespread adoption of this technology could further improve the cost-performance ratio of solar power, playing an indispensable role in realizing a sustainable energy society and contributing to global carbon reduction efforts.

Source: https://www.seu.edu.cn/english/2026/0723/c65369a578017/page.htm

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