Flexible Steel Substrate Boosts Efficiency of Tandem Solar Cell

• Breakthrough in solar technology: Flexible steel substrate boosts efficiency to 18.1% in new perovskite-CIGS tandem cell. A game-changer in photovoltaics!

Researchers from the University of Sydney, Microsolar, University of New South Wales, and MiaSolé Hi-Tech Corp. have developed a monolithic perovskite-CIGS tandem solar cell on a flexible conductive steel substrate with a record efficiency of 18.1%. This breakthrough represents a significant advancement in flexible perovskite-based tandem photovoltaics. The steel substrate serves as both a substrate and an electrode, allowing for large-area-monolithic-panel or smaller-area-singular cell fabrication.

The new cell is an improvement on a previous 17.1%-efficient perovskite device presented by another research group at the University of Sydney. The cell consists of various layers including a CIGS absorber, a perovskite absorber, and transparent conductive oxide films. The perovskite layer was deposited via thermal evaporation and spin coating, achieving a power conversion efficiency of 18.1% under standard illumination conditions.

The researchers highlighted the advantage of the conductive steel substrate, which allows for flexibility in cell interconnection and overcomes challenges associated with irregular surfaces of CIGS cells. This development marks a significant milestone in the advancement of flexible perovskite-CIGS tandem solar cells, with the highest efficiency reported to date.

What is the efficiency of the new monolithic perovskite-CIGS tandem solar cell?

• The new monolithic perovskite-CIGS tandem solar cell has a record efficiency of 18.1%
• The cell is an improvement on a previous 17.1%-efficient perovskite device
• The cell consists of various layers including a CIGS absorber, a perovskite absorber, and transparent conductive oxide films
• The perovskite layer was deposited via thermal evaporation and spin coating
• The conductive steel substrate serves as both a substrate and an electrode, allowing for flexibility in cell interconnection
• The cell achieved a power conversion efficiency of 18.1% under standard illumination conditions
• This development marks a significant milestone in the advancement of flexible perovskite-CIGS tandem solar cells, with the highest efficiency reported to date.