The Physikalisch-Technische  Bundesanstalt (PTB), Germany’s national metrology institute, has modernized its solar module calibration system, achieving a measurement uncertainty of just 0.9%—currently the lowest known uncertainty for a power measurement of silicon solar modules under standard test conditions worldwide. 

This achievement was made possible by a new setup based on an LED solar simulator developed by WAVELABS.

Researchers from India's Madan Mohan Malaviya University of Technology, University of Delhi, Manipal University and Sweden's IAAM have combined 2D and 3D perovskites to strengthen both reliability and efficiency of 3D perovskite solar cells (PSCs). 

The team explored the combined effect of Dion-Jacobson (DJ) 2D-3D halide-based perovskites layers on device performance. The DJ 2D material used was PeDAMA₄Pb₅I₁₆, while the 3D material is the lead-free, stable CsGeI_3-xBr_x (with x=1). The optimized solar cell structure developed in this work consisted of (Au/Cu₂O/PeDAMA₄Pb₅I₁₆/CsGeI_3-xBr_x/PCBM/FTO). 

Researchers from Spain's UPV/EHU, ICIQ-BIST, CIDETEC and Mexico's Instituto Politécnico Nacional have explored the effect of chalcogen substitutions in fullerene derivatives to enhance efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells.

The team examined the effects of chalcogen substitution in the chemical structure of phenyl-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) on the performance and stability of inverted perovskite solar cells (PSCs). PCBMs are the most widely used electron transport materials in inverted PSCs. However, these compounds can suffer from lack of stability under irradiation. In the race for optimizing the PCBM-like derivatives, the thiophene moiety has garnered significant attention for enhancing the performance and stability of PSCs. The novelty in this study relies on the tests done on the selenophene derivative. This compound was compared to thiophene and furan substituted derivatives, and to the reference PCBM without a chalcogenophene moiety, demonstrating a better surface passivation and reduced interfacial charge recombination.

Carbon-based all-inorganic perovskite solar cells (C-PSCs) are known for their inexpensive manufacturing process. However, their perovskite constituents are susceptible to the formation of numerous structural defects and halide vacancies, which can induce substantial energy level misalignments between the light-absorbing layer and the carbon electrode. This discrepancy hinders the extraction and transfer of holes, thereby adversely affecting the overall efficiency of the device. 

Image credit: Chemical Engineering Journal

Researchers from China's Huaqiao University have proposed an interfacial post-treatment strategy aimed at reinforcing perovskite layers through the application of Neostigmine bromide (NMB) as a modifier. The team employed NMB to treat the upper interface of the perovskite, addressing intrinsic phase segregation, passivating surface defects, and filling halogen vacancies, thereby enhancing the photoelectric performance and stability of the device.

Aiming to explore the potential of sulfur-based additives for increasing both device power conversion efficiency and moisture stability of perovskite solar cells, researchers from BCMaterials (Spain), Huazhong University of Science and Technology (China), Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research (Germany) and CNRS (France) have reported a mechanism for the local nanoscopic humidity ingression into a multifunctional additiviated formamidinium-loaded halide perovskites.

a) The molecular structure of additives used. Image from: Advanced Energy Materials

By tuning the iodide and bromide tails of the additives, the influence of sulfur heteroatom containing ammonium-amidinium salts on the photo-physical and device properties of a formamidinium-rich perovskite absorber was uncovered. 

SEI Energy Technology (Jiaxing), a joint venture in China between Solaires Enterprises (Victoria BC, Canada) and Genesis Technologies (Shanghai), has announced the successful trial production of its perovskite modules from its mass production line. The companies view the success of this trial production as a significant breakthrough that demonstrates the potential of this production line, that lays a foundation for the large-scale commercialization of perovskite materials and solar modules. 

Solaires is focused on research and application development in the field of indoor light power generation. Its third party tested conversion efficiency reportedly exceeded 35% in 2024. In addition, SEI’s manufacturing process of perovskite materials is relatively simple, which can greatly shorten the production cycle and improve production yield. The raw materials used are environmentally friendly and have significant cost advantages. 

Researchers from China's Jiangxi Normal University, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and City University of Hong Kong have developed a self-driven X-ray detection device using high resistivity zero-dimensional lead-free perovskite ferroelectric single-crystal (NMP)₃Sb₂Br₉. The device exhibits an excellent self-driven X-ray detection performance, with an ultra-low detection limit of 84.1 nGyair/s, approximately 60 times lower than that of commercial α-Se (5500 nGyair/s).

The self-driven detection mode without external bias has been proven to be an effective means of reducing the limit of detection (LoD) due to its low current noise characteristics. Additionally, the zero-dimensional distinctive isolated framework results in a high resistivity of 1.39 × 1011 W cm, which effectively reduces the current noise and suppresses ion migration. 

Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), ShanghaiTech University, Zhejiang Laboratory and Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Photovoltaic Science and Engineering recently reported an efficient (>27% reported efficiency) perovskite solar cell that uses a back mirror based on silver to improve light harvesting. 

The ultrathin perovskite solar cell utilizes a Gires-Tournois resonator to improve light absorption - an optical standing-wave resonator designed for generating chromatic dispersion. Gires-Tournois resonators are usually based on a reflective metal mirror and are primarily used in chirping applications such as pulse compression. The structure of the resonator in this study had a simple optical structure, combined with a silver back mirror, to optimize light capture and utilization while improving light absorption capacity.

China aims to encourage companies to focus on innovation, quality and production costs. As part of this effort, it was reported that China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has announced revisions to its photovoltaic manufacturing industry standards, addressing current challenges like businesses' repetitive expansion of low-level production capacity and falling profitability, to promote the PV industry's healthy development.

The MIIT has also raised the efficiency standards for new monocrystalline silicon PV cells and modules, and the revised standards also address next-generation technologies such as perovskite modules, with conversion efficiency requirements set at a minimum of 14%  for existing projects and 15.5% for new projects.

Rice University researchers have developed highly water-stable SiO₂-coated halide perovskite nanocrystals (HPNCs) as efficient photocatalysts for antimicrobial applications. The double SiO₂ layer coating method confers long-term structural and optical stability to HPNCs in water, while the in situ synthesis of lead- and bismuth-based perovskite NCs into the SiO₂ shell enhances their versatility and tunability. 

Image from: Nano Letters 

The team demonstrated that the substantial generation of singlet oxygen via energy transfer from HPNCs enables efficient photoinduced antibacterial efficacy under aqueous conditions. More than 90% of Escherichia coli was inactivated under mild visible light irradiation for 6 h. The excellent photocatalytic antibacterial performance suggests that SiO₂-coated HPNCs hold great potential for various aqueous phase photocatalytic applications.