Perovskites

The China National Institute of Metrology has certified the result. The manufacturer claims it was able to increase the panel efficiency from 16.02% to 18.04% in a few months.

A group of international researchers has developed a new perovskite-silicon solar cell design using a top perovskite PV device with an energy bandgap of 1.67 eV and a new self-assembly monolayer based on carbazole. The tandem cell achieved a higher efficiency compared to counterparts without the monolayer and passed the IEC 61215 standard thermal cycling test.

The Chinese Academy of Sciences has unveiled a high-efficiency perovskite solar cell with a purported peak efficiency rating of 26.1%, by using 1-(Phenylsulfonyl)pyrrole (PSP) as an additive. The cell is third-party certified with an efficiency of 25.2%, and it maintains 92% of its original efficiency after 2,500 hours of operation.

Andries Wantenaar, a solar analyst at Rethink Energy, explains why he sees a bright future for perovskite PV cells, with technological advancements and major R&D investment paving the way for revolutionary change.

Researchers in Italy have used protective buffer layers in perovskite solar cells to mitigate damage during the sputtering of indium tin oxide in the production process. They claim the buffer layers were able to fulfill this mission without impairing the cell’s average visible transmittance.

Iranian researchers have improved perovskite solar cell efficiency by using a single-walled carbon nanotube as a hole transport layer surrounded by lead sulfide colloidal quantum dots.

The research team said the cell also achieved remarkable thermal stability, as it was able to retain 90% of its original efficiency for over 1,000 h. The device uses a self-assembled monolayer to stabilize the interface between the perovskite absorber and the hole transport layer.

German equipment supplier 4JET has launched a new thin film system designed for P1, P2 and P3 laser scribing of perovskite, cadmium telluride (CdTe), and copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) solar technologies.

A team of Dutch university students under the banner Top Dutch Solar Racing has installed perovskite silicon tandem cells in its entry in the 16th edition of Bridgestone World Solar Challenge. The upcoming race is a six day, 3000 km expedition across the Australian continent, from Darwin to Adelaide.

A research team in Bangladesh has simulated a perovskite-CIGS PV device that can reportedly achieve a remarkable tandem cell voltage of 2.48 V. The proposed method is also applicable for tandem cells composed of other materials.