EPFL achieves 29.2% efficiency for tandem solar cell with fully textured silicon

• Researchers in Switzerland made substantial progress with a method to perovskite-silicon tandem cell layout that they state might become integrated right into existing silicon PV production. They have announced the success of a 29.2% cell efficiency-- not far from the total record for tandem cells, and confirmed by Germany's Fraunhofer ISE.

There is little question left that perovskite-silicon tandem cells will eventually make their method into mass-production, as well as make great on their many pledges of low-priced, high-efficiency solar generation. Yet the specific device structures that reach commercialization, and also the procedures used to generate them, are still significantly an open question, with colleges and also R&D divisions throughout the world discovering a riches of different promising strategies.

One concern on the perovskite side is establishing processes that can slot right into existing silicon production with minimal disruption. This was the method taken by scientists at Switzerland's École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), that looked for a reliable means to incorporate a perovskite layer on top of a business silicon cell textured with small "pyramids" that aid with light trapping and also cell efficiency but do not provide themselves very well to having actually one more layer transferred on the top.

In 2018, the group introduced a permeable natural base layer to the device, initially attaining cell efficiencies of 25.2%. As well as ever since it has persisted with this approach, enhancing both the perovskite crystallization processes and the transparency of the base layer. Now, EPFL has gotten to a 29.2% efficiency rating for a gadget gauging 1 square centimeter, as validated by Germany's Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems.

EPFL claims this as a world-record efficiency level for a tandem cell based on totally distinctive silicon, and they are not as well far behind the overall of 29.8% effectiveness ranking established by Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin in November 2021. The groups stated it soon expects to be pushing for performances past 30%.

Regardless of these accomplishments, the team claimed it remains cautious concerning getting too thrilled over the production potential customers just yet.

" Several years of R&D are still needed to bring such innovation and manufacturing processes to market," stated EPFL scientist Christophe Baliff. "A large obstacle will certainly be developing solar cells that can remain stable on our rooftops for greater than 25 years. But the greater effectiveness we showed without altering the front appearance will be very attractive for the photovoltaics sector."