Chinese Researchers Achieve 27.39% Efficiency in Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells with Novel ‘SGDC’ Molecular Design, Demonstrating Over 5,000 Hours of Stability

September 6, 2026

PV Magazine Germany

Overview

A Chinese research group developed a new molecular design approach, the “Stereo-Gated Dual-Site Chelation (SGDC)” strategy, achieving an exceptionally high power conversion efficiency of 27.39% in inverted perovskite solar cells (IPSCs). This strategy effectively reduces defects within the perovskite film while providing robust passivation without hindering charge transport. Furthermore, bifacial mini-modules incorporating this technology demonstrated over 22% efficiency and an impressive 99.6% power retention after more than 5,000 hours of continuous operation, showcasing superior stability.

In Depth

Key Findings

A Chinese research group has developed an innovative molecular design approach, the “Stereo-Gated Dual-Site Chelation (SGDC)” strategy, achieving an exceptionally high power conversion efficiency of 27.39% in inverted perovskite solar cells (IPSCs). This breakthrough successfully overcomes the previous challenge of simultaneously suppressing defects within the perovskite film and preserving efficient charge transport pathways. Moreover, bifacial mini-modules employing the SGDC strategy maintained over 22% efficiency while demonstrating an astounding 99.6% power retention after more than 5,000 hours of continuous operation, establishing a new benchmark for the long-term stability of perovskite solar cells.

Technical & Clinical Details

The core of the SGDC strategy lies in using specialized molecules to precisely passivate defects at the interface between the perovskite layer and the charge transport layer. These molecules stereospecifically bind to particular sites within the perovskite crystal lattice, chemically passivating defect sites while simultaneously acting as a “gate” that does not impede charge carrier movement. This significantly reduces non-radiative recombination losses, improving the device’s open-circuit voltage (Voc) and fill factor (FF), ultimately leading to the high efficiency of 27.39%. Additionally, this passivation layer enhances the perovskite film’s stability against external environmental factors, particularly heat and moisture. The 99.6% power retention after more than 5,000 hours of continuous operation provides strong data supporting the practical utility of this SGDC strategy for outdoor installations, indicating its potential to dramatically extend the lifetime and reliability of perovskite solar cells.

Background & Context

Perovskite solar cells have garnered significant interest as a next-generation photovoltaic technology due to their high efficiency and low manufacturing costs. However, the long-term stability of the devices, particularly degradation caused by interfacial defects, has been one of the main challenges for commercialization. China leads the world in R&D of solar power technology and has been actively investing in perovskite technology. The SGDC strategy is groundbreaking because it achieves both defect passivation and charge transport efficiency, addressing a trade-off that conventional passivation techniques often faced where they impeded charge transport. This breakthrough paves the technological path for perovskite solar cells to genuinely compete with conventional silicon solar cells and be widely adopted in various markets.

Strategic Significance & Outlook

The 27.39% efficient inverted perovskite solar cell based on the SGDC strategy will be a powerful driver accelerating the commercialization of this technology. The future outlook involves further optimizing this molecular design approach and scaling it up to large-area module manufacturing processes. Furthermore, the stability data, demonstrating 99.6% power retention after over 5,000 hours of continuous operation, provides strong validation for ensuring long-term reliability in outdoor environments. If this technology becomes widespread, it will accelerate the adoption of perovskite solar cells in diverse applications such as building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), flexible devices, and even IoT power sources. This breakthrough by the Chinese research team makes the future, where perovskite solar cells play an indispensable role in the global energy transition, more tangible.

Source: https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/09/03/chinese-scientists-build-27-39-efficient-inverted-perovskite-solar-cell-based-on-new-molecular-design/

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