Researchers unveil tougher perovskite glass brick for solar façades applications

• European researchers present a second-generation perovskite “glass brick” for BIPV, improving mechanical strength and efficiency within a modular construction system.

A European research team has introduced a second prototype of a perovskite-based “solar brick” designed for building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), advancing both mechanical robustness and device performance. The effort integrates perovskite mini-modules into Textile Ceramic Technology (TCT), an industrialized dry-construction framework originally built around a stainless-steel mesh for embedding tiles.

After a 2022 ceramic prototype revealed limits in impact resistance and power conversion efficiency, the group shifted to a glass-front design—closer to conventional PV laminates—to better protect the perovskite stack while preserving architectural transparency options. The revised device links nine perovskite cells per substrate into series mini-modules, fabricated via a hybrid process that marries spin-coating for active layers with laser techniques for interconnection, increasing the effective aperture and improving output.

Targeting Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4–5, the team validated performance and safety using an intermediate protocol that borrows from existing silicon and thin-film PV standards plus construction requirements—a pragmatic step given the absence of formal rules for perovskite-BIPV today. Just as important, the study documents the interdisciplinary workflow needed to span scales, from façade dimensions down to micrometer-thick absorber layers.

Two persistent hurdles remain: stability and scalability. Perovskite solar cells can degrade under moisture, oxygen, thermal cycling and illumination, while efficiency often falls as cells grow larger. The prototype addresses these risks through materials selection, glass encapsulation and process controls intended to bolster durability without sacrificing aesthetics. If future rounds confirm long-term reliability, the concept could unlock visually adaptable, rapidly installed façades that deliver meaningful on-site generation.

For architects and developers, the pitch is compelling: standardized “bricks” that assemble into structurally sound skins, enabling color-tuned, energy-producing envelopes without heavy substructures. With clearer standards and supply-chain scaling, such components could evolve from lab curiosity to a practical BIPV option.