perovskite solar cells

Chinese solar manufacturer LONGi reports a new silicon solar cell efficiency record of 28.29%, closing in on the technology's theoretical limit of around 29%. The milestone highlights how far cell engineering has progressed and how little headroom remains for conventional silicon, intensifying focus on next-generation designs like perovskite tandem cells. Industry observers are weighing what the achievement means for future cost reductions and the solar sector's competitive race.

Researchers report a new perovskite solar cell reaching 30.1% efficiency, achieved by engineering smarter perovskite layer structures to reduce energy losses. The result marks another step toward making perovskite-based panels competitive with, or better than, conventional silicon technology, and is drawing attention in the renewable energy field.

Researchers report that making perovskite films smoother has pushed a three-layer, or tandem, solar cell to a power conversion efficiency of 30.1%. Reducing surface roughness in the perovskite layer helps the stacked cell convert more sunlight into electricity, a level approaching the performance of top commercial silicon technology and a step forward for next-generation photovoltaics.

Researchers have developed a perovskite solar cell modified with a polymer that achieves high efficiency underwater, according to Physics World. The advance could open the door to powering underwater sensors, robots and monitoring equipment with sunlight rather than batteries or cables. The polymer tuning is said to help the cells cope with the way water absorbs and scatters light, preserving performance where conventional solar cells would fail.

SoFab Inks has received a $300,000 grant from the US National Science Foundation to develop lower-cost perovskite solar cell layers. The funding will support the company's work on ink-based manufacturing methods aimed at making perovskite solar panels cheaper to produce, a key step toward wider adoption of the emerging solar technology.

A U.S. research team reports a stability record for a 2D/3D tin perovskite solar cell with an efficiency of 16.19%. The cell is lead-free, which matters because tin perovskites are seen as a less toxic alternative to lead-based designs, but they have historically degraded quickly. The claim, covered by pv magazine USA, suggests progress in combining decent efficiency with long-term durability.

A tin-based breakthrough is being reported as a way for solar panels to overcome their current power efficiency limit. Tin is seen as a promising lead-free alternative in next-generation perovskite solar cells, though the report offers few details beyond the headline. Researchers say improving materials like tin could push panels past conventional performance ceilings.