Researchers Boost Solar Cell Efficiency to 32% with New SAMs

• Revolutionizing solar power: New SAM technology boosts perovskite/silicon tandem cells to 32.19% efficiency, setting new standards in energy conversion and stability.

Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and collaborators have achieved a 32.19% efficiency in perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells using a novel bidentate-anchored superwetting self-assembled molecular layer (SAM). This innovation addresses the inhomogeneity issues in hole-selective layers by employing a bisphosphonate-anchored SAM with an upside-down carbazole core, enhancing adsorption and hole transport capabilities. The new SAM, 2PhPA-CzH, facilitates high-quality perovskite films with minimized energetic mismatches.

The optimized perovskite solar cells (PSCs) demonstrated a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 22.83% and excellent stability, maintaining performance for over 1000 hours under damp-heat conditions. The 2PhPA-CzH-functionalized recombination layers were applied to submicron-pyramid texture silicon heterojunctions, achieving a certified efficiency of 31.54% in tandem solar cells. This advancement provides a framework for designing multidentate-anchored SAMs to enhance efficiency and stability in solar cell technology.

How did researchers achieve 32.19% efficiency in perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells?

• Utilization of a bidentate-anchored superwetting self-assembled molecular layer (SAM) to address inhomogeneity in hole-selective layers.
• Implementation of a bisphosphonate-anchored SAM with an upside-down carbazole core to improve adsorption and hole transport.
• Development of the new SAM, 2PhPA-CzH, to facilitate high-quality perovskite films and minimize energetic mismatches.
• Optimization of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) to achieve a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 22.83%.
• Demonstration of excellent stability in PSCs, maintaining performance for over 1000 hours under damp-heat conditions.
• Application of 2PhPA-CzH-functionalized recombination layers to submicron-pyramid texture silicon heterojunctions.
• Achievement of a certified efficiency of 31.54% in tandem solar cells.
• Establishment of a framework for designing multidentate-anchored SAMs to enhance efficiency and stability in solar cell technology.