Perovskite Solar
What are perovskites?
Perovskites refer to a class of materials that share a similar structure, which display a myriad of exciting properties like superconductivity, magnetoresistance and more. These easily synthesized materials are considered the future of solar cells, as their distinctive structure makes them perfect for enabling low-cost, efficient photovoltaics. They are also predicted to play a role in next-gen electric vehicle batteries, sensors, lasers and much more.

How does the PV market look today?
In general, Photovoltaic (PV) technologies can be viewed as divided into two main categories: wafer-based PV (also called 1st generation PVs) and thin-film cell PVs. Traditional crystalline silicon (c-Si) cells (both single crystalline silicon and multi-crystalline silicon) and gallium arsenide (GaAs) cells belong to the wafer-based PVs, with c-Si cells dominating the current PV market (about 90% market share) and GaAs exhibiting the highest efficiency.

Thin-film cells normally absorb light more efficiently than silicon, allowing the use of extremely thin films. Cadmium telluride (CdTe) technology has been successfully commercialized, with more than 20% cell efficiency and 17.5% module efficiency record and such cells currently hold about 5% of the total market. Other commercial thin-film technologies include hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) and copper indium gallium (di)selenide (CIGS) cells, taking approximately 2% market share each today. Copper zinc tin sulphide technology has been under R&D for years and will probably require some time until actual commercialization.
What is a perovskite solar cell?
An emerging thin-film PV class is being formed, also called 3rd generation PVs, which refers to PVs using technologies that have the potential to overcome current efficiency and performance limits or are based on novel materials. This 3rd generation of PVs includes DSSC, organic photovoltaic (OPV), quantum dot (QD) PV and perovskite PV.
A perovskite solar cell is a type of solar cell which includes a perovskite structured compound, most commonly a hybrid organic-inorganic lead or tin halide-based material, as the light-harvesting active layer. Perovskite materials such as methylammonium lead halides are cheap to produce and relatively simple to manufacture. Perovskites possess intrinsic properties like broad absorption spectrum, fast charge separation, long transport distance of electrons and holes, long carrier separation lifetime, and more, that make them very promising materials for solid-state solar cells.

Perovskite solar cells are, without a doubt, the rising star in the field of photovoltaics. They are causing excitement within the solar power industry with their ability to absorb light across almost all visible wavelengths, exceptional power conversion efficiencies already exceeding 20% in the lab, and relative ease of fabrication. Perovskite solar cells still face several challenge, but much work is put into facing them and some companies, are already talking about commercializing them in the near future.
What are the advantages of Perovskite solar cells?
Put simply, perovskite solar cells aim to increase the efficiency and lower the cost of solar energy. Perovskite PVs indeed hold promise for high efficiencies, as well as low potential material & reduced processing costs. A big advantage perovskite PVs have over conventional solar technology is that they can react to various different wavelengths of light, which lets them convert more of the sunlight that reaches them into electricity.
Moreover, they offer flexibility, semi-transparency, tailored form factors, light-weight and more. Naturally, electronics designers and researchers are certain that such characteristics will open up many more applications for solar cells.
What is holding perovskite PVs back?
Despite its great potential, perovskite solar cell technology is still in the early stages of commercialization compared with other mature solar technologies as there are a number of concerns remaining.
One problem is their overall cost (for several reasons, mainly since currently the most common electrode material in perovskite solar cells is gold), and another is that cheaper perovskite solar cells have a short lifespan. Perovskite PVs also deteriorate rapidly in the presence of moisture and the decay products attack metal electrodes. Heavy encapsulation to protect perovskite can add to the cell cost and weight. Scaling up is another issue - reported high efficiency ratings have been achieved using small cells, which is great for lab testing, but too small to be used in an actual solar panel.
A major issue is toxicity - a substance called PbI is one of the breakdown products of perovskite. This is known to be toxic and there are concerns that it may be carcinogenic (although this is still an unproven point). Also, many perovskite cells use lead, a massive pollutant. Researchers are constantly seeking substitutions, and have already made working cells using tin instead. (with efficiency at only 6%, but improvements will surely follow).
What’s next?
While major challenges indeed exist, perovskite solar cells are still touted as the PV technology of the future, and much development work and research are put into making this a reality. Scientists and companies are working towards increasing efficiency and stability, prolonging lifetime and replacing toxic materials with safer ones. Researchers are also looking at the benefits of combining perovskites with other technologies, like silicon for example, to create what is referred to as “tandem cells”.
Bolster Investment Partners acquires 80% of solar testing equipment company Eternal Sun
Eternal Sun, developer of solar simulators for photovoltaic testing, has announced that Bolster Investment Partners has acquired an 80% majority stake in the company.
The strategic partnership is set to accelerate Eternal Sun’s international expansion, product development, and professionalization. This milestone follows sustained growth and innovation in solar testing technology, including next-gen tandem and perovskite applications. Bolster brings not just capital, but also strategic support to realize Eternal Sun’s long-term ambitions in a rapidly evolving solar market.
New molecular polymerization strategy could combat lead leakage and improve the stability of PSCs
Identifying lead leakage and stability as major challenges for the commercialization of perovskite solar cells (PSCs), researchers from Chongqing University and Huazhong University of Science and Technology have developed a polymerization method to achieve highly stable and environmentally friendly high-performance PSCs.
Device structure diagram of the PSCs and corresponding cross-sectional SEM image. Image from: Science Advances
Through the addition of the small organic molecule N,N′-bis(acryloyl)cystamine (BAC) to the perovskite precursor solution, the terminal alkenes of BAC enable the construction of polymer BAC (PBAC) at the perovskite grain boundaries (GBs) during the annealing process of the perovskite films. PBAC not only overcomes the limitations of organic small molecules but also interacts with perovskites through its numerous functional groups and multiple reactive sites. This interaction effectively passivates deep-level defects, suppressing nonradiative carrier recombination.
Perovskite-Info updates its Perovskite for the Solar Industry Market Report
Today we have released a new edition of the Perovskites for the Solar Industry market report. This report, over 190 pages long, is a comprehensive guide to next-generation perovskite-based solutions for the solar industry that enable efficient, low cost, lightweight and unique solar solutions. This major new edition includes over 20 new companies and over 50 updates. The perovskite industry is moving fast towards commercialization and our report is a must-read for anyone that wishes to become an expert on this emerging industry and market.
Reading this report, you'll learn all about:
- The perovskite solar industry and market
- The advantages and challenges of perovskite PVs
- Perovskite PV developers and supply chain companies
- What the future holds for the perovskite market and industry
The report also provides:
- Market segmentation by technology, geography, applications and more
- The latest efficiency records (by PV type)
- Details on perovskite collaborative research projects
- A market snapshot and forecast
- Free updates for a year
New on-demand Lewis base molecule formation strategy could improve the efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells
In the fabrication of FAPbI3-based perovskite solar cells, Lewis bases play a crucial role in facilitating the formation of the desired photovoltaic α-phase. However, an inherent contradiction in their role is that they must strongly bind to stabilize the intermediate δ-phase, yet weakly bind for rapid removal to enable phase transition and grain growth.
To address this issue, researchers at the University of Toledo, Northwestern University, Cornell University, University of Washington and Brookhaven National Laboratory have developed a new strategy to control the crystallization process in perovskite-based solar cells, stabilizing the δ-phase while facilitating their transition to the α-phase. Their proposed approach enables the formation of Lewis bases on perovskites on demand to optimize crystallization, which can enhance the efficiency and stability of solar cells.
Researchers develop new laminate-structured material interface that could improve inverted perovskite solar cells
Researchers at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) have developed an innovative laminated interface microstructure that enhances the stability and photoelectric conversion efficiency of inverted perovskite solar cells.
Prof. ZHOU Yuanyuan, Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering (CBE) and Associate Director of the Energy Institute at HKUST, leads a team focused on fundamental research into perovskite optoelectronic devices from a unique structural perspective. They collaborated closely with Prof. CAI Songhua’s team from the Department of Applied Physics at PolyU. Their research revealed that by uniformly creating a “molecular passivation layer-fullerene derivative layer-2D perovskite layer”—a “three-ply” laminated structure on the surface of the perovskite film—they could effectively reduce the density of interface defects and improve energy level alignment. This advancement substantially boosts the photoelectric conversion efficiency of the perovskite solar cell and enhances the durability of the interface under damp-heat and light soaking conditions.
Ionic salts for high-performance inverted perovskite solar modules
Researchers at NREL, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Newcastle University, University of Toledo, Arizona State University and CubicPV have used an ionic salt to replace the fullerene layer in perovskite solar cells, which reportedly boosted their performance, efficiency, and durability.
The researchers said their findings point to a promising approach to advancing perovskite photovoltaic technologies toward commercialization. Kai Zhu, a senior scientist at NREL and an architect of the research effort, said improvements involved changing the chemical composition of the electron transport layer in the perovskite solar cell. This layer is essential as it moves electrons triggered by sunlight through the cell, thereby generating electricity. The fullerene C60 is commonly used for the electron transport layer in inverted perovskite solar cells, but its molecular nature leads to a weak interface and limits the performance of the device. That is especially a problem with long-term stability.
Multifunctional TiOx interconnects could promote the commercialization of perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells
Researchers at Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) and the UK's University of Oxford have asserted that while perovskite-on-silicon tandem solar cells are highly promising, the intrinsic multilayer device design presents challenges in complexity, which can be a drawback in future mass production. To this end, they developed a TiOx layer (∼3–5 nm) grown by atomic layer deposition (ALD), that enables a series interconnection of a perovskite n-i-p top cell with a silicon wafer directly.
A photo of the tandem solar cell fabricated on a 25 mm × 25 mm Si substrate. Image from: Small
The TiOx layer serves as an all-in-one interconnect, fulfilling the functions of silicon surface passivation, hole extraction from silicon, and recombination junction at the top/bottom cell interface. As a result, a proof-of-concept 22.4%-efficient tandem device was demonstrated. Furthermore, an improved PCE of 26.5% was achieved by capping the TiOx with a thin ALD-TiNy layer (∼4 nm).
New flexible perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell achieves 26.5% efficiency
Researchers at Tokyo City University recently developed flexible perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells by fabricating perovskite solar cells atop bendable thin-crystalline silicon solar cells. By reducing the thickness of the silicon substrate to approximately 60 µm, applying microtexturing to its surface, and incorporating a low-refractive index-doped layer, the team produced a flexible silicon heterojunction solar cell with an efficiency exceeding 21%.
Subsequently, by optimizing the self-assembled monolayer processing conditions on the microtextured surface and constructing an inverted perovskite solar cell on the flexible SHJ, they achieved 26.5% efficiency for the flexible perovskite/silicon tandem solar cell.
China-based Sunshine commissions MW-scale pilot line for large-area perovskite solar modules
It was reported that a Chinese perovskite manufacturer called Sunshine has completed construction of a MW-scale pilot line for large-area perovskite solar module production. According to local government sources, the project is located in Shushan Economic Development Zone, Hefei, Anhui Province, and is part of Anhui’s key R&D initiative.
The government of Shushan Economic Development Zone states Sunshine has achieved a certified perovskite cell efficiency of 25.05% and developed a 900 cm² perovskite module using its proprietary vapor-assisted printing technology.
New additive based on TADF molecule could enable efficient and stable perovskite solar cells
Ultraviolet (UV)-induced damage and limited solar spectrum utilization can hinder the performance of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). In a recent study, researchers from Fuzhou University and Chinese Academy of Sciences developed a thermally activated delayed fluorescent (TADF) molecule, 4CzIPN, to address these challenges.
Acting as a down-conversion agent, 4CzIPN can convert UV light to visible light via Förster energy transfer, enhancing light absorption and reducing photon loss. Additionally, it can bind Pb2+ defects and prevents organic cation degradation through cationic π-effects, stabilizing the perovskite structure. By serving as a crystal growth site, 4CzIPN can promote intermediate phase formation and delay the crystallization process, and improve film quality while mitigating residual stress due to its high thermal expansion coefficient. Furthermore, its UV filtration and hydrophobic properties would reduce perovskite decomposition and device degradation.
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