Chinese Scientists Set New Record: Perovskite-Organic Tandem Solar Cell Achieves 27.35% Efficiency

September 13, 2026

pv magazine Global China

Overview

Researchers at Nanjing University have achieved a certified record-breaking efficiency of 27.35% for a perovskite-organic tandem solar cell. This breakthrough, detailed in Joule, utilized a novel low-bandgap acceptor to optimize near-infrared light harvesting and photocurrent matching, while also demonstrating promising operational stability, retaining 80% of its initial performance after 744 hours of continuous illumination. This achievement significantly advances tandem solar cell technology towards higher performance and practical viability.

In Depth

Background

Tandem solar cells, which combine two different solar cell materials to capture a broader spectrum of sunlight, are a key strategy for pushing photovoltaic efficiencies beyond the limits of single-junction devices. Perovskite-organic tandems are particularly promising due to their tunable bandgaps and low-cost processing, but achieving high efficiencies with good stability remains a significant challenge.

Key Findings

A team of scientists at Nanjing University in China has announced a major breakthrough in tandem solar cell technology. They have developed a perovskite-organic tandem solar cell that achieved a certified power conversion efficiency of 27.35%. This figure represents a new world record for this specific type of tandem architecture, pushing the boundaries of what is possible with organic and perovskite materials. The key to this record-breaking performance lies in the ingenious utilization of a novel low-bandgap acceptor material. This material significantly enhances the harvesting of near-infrared light, a spectral region often underutilized by conventional solar cells. Moreover, the design effectively optimized photocurrent matching between the two sub-cells, a crucial factor for maximizing tandem efficiency. Beyond efficiency, the device also exhibited promising operational stability, maintaining 80% of its initial performance after an impressive 744 hours of continuous illumination, addressing a common concern with new solar materials.

Significance & Outlook

This achievement, published in the journal Joule, has profound implications for the future of solar energy. The record 27.35% efficiency demonstrates the immense potential of perovskite-organic tandem cells to surpass the performance of established silicon technologies. The improved near-infrared light harvesting is particularly important for increasing energy yield under real-world conditions, while the enhanced stability offers a clear path towards commercialization. This breakthrough could accelerate the development of next-generation solar panels that are not only more efficient but also potentially more cost-effective and versatile for various applications, contributing significantly to global renewable energy targets.

Source: https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQEWJuZui8DOVaYCoNVqZ2kM0qPev0WDmBfzb1yGPwSmD7T6CuyqROsatJoI1ggpPBrpyTJ5CEnwu0fSMD48jRBQgilLVMYUDkm41srQRjMG9sSyz0ggA8fOSyzZNGrcV9qpi2npudqAMH1ZdJDHRWulgk5zsz2ndV2uMgCRKl5MIDOUa2VnUmg4-qmmMt9PbrV6C6hsQNnVE0i2dV7sroSNkDZN1bXOkow_AMp_viHdAf2CgjebnzS_CKpvQEkLxUMJSDM4SZm-CoIw==

Get our weekly technology intelligence — free

Receive an infographic that lets you judge at a glance whether each field’s analysis report is worth reading.

Subscribe Free — Weekly Tech Intelligence

By subscribing, you’ll receive Troy-Technical’s weekly technology intelligence newsletter.