Revolutionary Leap in Solar Energy: Researchers Crack 30% Efficiency Threshold With Perovskite-Silicon Tandem Cells

Innovative Breakthrough in Solar Energy: Scientists Achieve 30% Efficiency Milestone Through Perovskite-Silicon Tandem Cells

In recent advancements, researchers from separate investigations have pioneered techniques for manufacturing perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells that boast power conversion efficiencies surpassing the 30% benchmark, transcending the conventional limitations of silicon-based photovoltaics. In the first study, a breakthrough was attained by fine-tuning the deposition of perovskite material onto a silicon substrate, incorporating phosphonic acid additives. In the second study, an ionic liquid was employed to enhance charge extraction, thereby yielding remarkable efficiencies of 31.2% and 32.5%, respectively.

Two distinct scientific studies have introduced innovative methodologies to enable the creation of high-performance perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells, achieving power conversion efficiencies that exceed 30%. Silicon solar cells, the most prevalent photovoltaic technology, are swiftly approaching their theoretical upper limit of power conversion efficiency, set at 29%.

Enhancing solar cell efficiency involves optimizing the spectrum of sunlight for conversion into usable energy. This can be achieved by integrating two or more interconnected photoactive materials within a single device, thereby augmenting solar energy capture. The amalgamation of perovskite and silicon solar cells into a tandem arrangement presents a promising avenue for the development of high-performance photovoltaic systems.

In two separate research endeavors, scholars have outlined distinct strategies for the advancement of perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells, achieving power conversion efficiencies surpassing 30%.

“Surpassing this efficiency threshold instills confidence in the feasibility of introducing high-performance, cost-effective photovoltaic solutions to the market,” articulate Stefaan De Wolf and Erkan Aydin in an associated Perspective.

In one study, Xin Yu Chin and collaborators demonstrate that uniform deposition of the perovskite top cell onto a silicon bottom cell with micrometric pyramid features – a standard configuration within the industry – facilitates elevated photocurrents in tandem solar cells.

Chin et al. establish that the incorporation of phosphonic acid additives during the cell processing sequence not only enhances the crystallization process of the perovskite material but also mitigates recombination losses. As a proof-of-concept, the researchers construct a device boasting an active area of 1.17 square centimeters, achieving a certified power conversion efficiency of 31.2%.

Taking an alternative approach, Silvia Mariotti and her team reveal that the utilization of an ionic liquid known as piperazinium iodide enhances band alignment and fosters efficient charge extraction at the interface of a trihalide perovskite and the electron-transport layer, creating a positive dipole. Through this modification, Mariotti et al. engineer a perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell that showcases a noteworthy open circuit voltage of up to 2.0 volts, accompanied by a certified power conversion efficiency of up to 32.5%.

References:

• “Interface passivation for 31.25%-efficient perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells” by Xin Yu Chin et al., Science, 6 July 2023, DOI: 10.1126/science.adg0091
• “Interface engineering for high-performance, triple-halide perovskite–silicon tandem solar cells” by Silvia Mariotti et al., Science, 6 July 2023, DOI: 10.1126/science.adf5872

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More about Efficiency Boost

• Efficiency breakthrough in perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells
• Xin Yu Chin et al., “Interface passivation for 31.25%-efficient perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells”
• Silvia Mariotti et al., “Interface engineering for high-performance, triple-halide perovskite–silicon tandem solar cells”