Oxford PV and Fraunhofer ISE announce full-sized tandem PV module with 25% efficiency

A research team from the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE has reported a PV module using perovskite silicon tandem solar cells from Oxford PV with an efficiency of 25% and an out-put of 421 watts on an area of 1.68 square meters, stating it is a record efficiency for a silicon perovskite tandem solar module in industrial format. 

For the manufacturing process, the researchers used equipment at Fraunhofer ISE's Module-TEC that is already used in mass production and optimized the processes for the tandem technology.

Read the full story Posted: Jan 31,2024

Researchers fine-tune the use of C60 ETLs for better perovskite solar cell technology

Researchers from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Princeton University, Marmara University, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic and Nano-C have designed a perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell with a top inverted perovskite cell relying on an electron transport layer (ETL) made of thermally evaporated buckminsterfullerene (C60).

In the “p-i-n” device structure, hole-selective contact p is at the bottom of intrinsic perovskite layer i with electron transport layer n at the top. Conventional halide perovskite cells have the same structure but reversed – a “n-i-p” layout. In n-i-p architecture, the solar cell is illuminated through the electron-transport layer (ETL) side; in the p-i-n structure, it is illuminated through the hole‐transport layer (HTL) surface.

Read the full story Posted: Jan 26,2024

SOLMATES consortium selected for Horizon Europe project, aims to develop improved flexible tandem PV technologies

A consortium entitled "Scalable High-power Output and Low-Cost MAde-to-measure Tandem Solar Modules Enabling Specialized PV Applications" (SOLMATES) was selected for a Horizon Europe project. 

The consortium consists of 3 RTOs including the HZB (Helmholtz Center in Berlin for Materials and Energy), Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER) and TNO (Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research), 5 universities including the Universität Innsbruck (project coordinator) and 6 SMEs. The SOLMATES initiative launched in December 2023 held an initial "kick-off" strategic research meeting on January 17-18, 2024, in Innsbruck, Austria.

Read the full story Posted: Jan 24,2024

Researchers develop tandem perovskite light-emitting diodes

Researchers at Seoul National University and Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) have developed highly efficient tandem perovskite light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs). This advancement may expedite the commercialization of perovskite light-emitting materials in next-generation display technologies.

The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) announced that the team, led by Professor Lee Tae-woo from Seoul National University’s College of Engineering, has successfully created a high-efficiency and long-life hybrid tandem light-emitting device. This device combines metal halide perovskites with organic light-emitting diodes.

Read the full story Posted: Jan 17,2024

TandemPV raises $6 million to accelerate perovskite PV commercialization

TandemPV has raised $6 million, bringing its total to $27 million in venture capital and government support. The Company will use the funds to advance research and development and plans to build its first manufacturing facility.

The funding round was led by existing investor Planetary Technologies, an early-stage venture capital firm with deep expertise in climate tech. Other institutional investors participated, including new investor Uncorrelated Ventures, as well as executives from a variety of corporate sectors and such solar industry leaders as Tom Werner, former chairman, president and CEO of SunPower Corp.

Read the full story Posted: Jan 16,2024

Researchers develop unique ACIGS solar cells for better tandem perovskite/CIGS technology

Researchers from the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST) in South Korea have developed silver-alloyed CIGS solar cells (ACIGS) that can be beneficial for applications in perovskite-CIGS tandem PV devices. 

The silver-alloyed photovoltaic cell based on copper, indium, gallium and selenium (CIGS) thin-film technology and can reach a remarkable power conversion efficiency of 17.7% without applying post-deposition treatments or anti-reflection coatings. 

Read the full story Posted: Jan 09,2024

Researchers develop new passivation technique for better lead-free perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells

Researchers from Japan's University of Electro-Communication and CAR MATE MFG. CO. have developed a lead-free tin sulfide solar cell that is intended for applications in tandem perovskite-silicon PV devices. 

Using a new passivation technique based on the use of phenylsilane (PhSiH3) as a reducing agent, the scientists were able to considerably increase the cell's efficiency compared to a reference device with no PhSiH3 treatment.

Read the full story Posted: Jan 07,2024

Akcome to invest $140 million in HJT-perovskite tandem solar cell facility

Chinese energy company Akcome has announced an investment of approximately 1 billion RMB (~USD 140 million) to establish a research and production base for heterojunction-perovskite tandem solar cells.

The initiative will be led by Akcome’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Zhejiang Akcome Future Technology Co., Ltd., in collaboration with the Hangzhou Qianjiang Economic Development Zone Management Committee.

Read the full story Posted: Jan 03,2024

Researchers design transport layers that decouple perovskite thickness from efficiency limitations

Researchers at Germany's Forschungszentrum Jülich have reported a method to fabricate >1-micrometer thick perovskite films by employing hole-transporting bilayers of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) and poly[bis(4-phenyl) (2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)amine] (PTAA). Recognizing the critical role transport layers play in exacerbating thickness-dependent losses, the team optimized a dual-layer hole transport architecture to reduce resistive losses and recombination. The authors achieved remarkable efficiency retention at over 1 micron thickness.

This work focuses on a solar cell architecture that decouples thickness from efficiency limitations. By sandwiching specialty organic films around the perovskite layer, the authors enabled micron-scale thicknesses without forfeiting peak performance. Their design notably achieves a remarkable 20.2% efficiency at over 1 micron thickness with minimal losses compared to thinner versions.

Read the full story Posted: Dec 27,2023

Enel Green Power and CEA/3SUN achieve 28.4% efficiency for a 9 cm² tandem perovskite/silicon cell

The CEA at INES, ENEL Green Power and its Sicilian affiliate 3SUN have announced a new record for a PIN architecture two-terminal perovskite-silicon tandem cell with a conversion efficiency of 28.4% on 9 cm² with shading correction.

In 2023, the CEA and 3SUN have previously announced 26.5% in March, and 27.1% in June for the same type of PIN architecture tandem cell on 9cm² with shading correction. The year closes on a high note for the team, with this cell, certified by the European Commission JRC-ESTI at a conversion efficiency 24.4% equivalent to 28.4% with shading correction. Like the previous performance record, the device has an active surface area of ~ 9 cm² and a Voc of over 1900 mV.

Read the full story Posted: Dec 20,2023