A pivotal breakthrough has been achieved in next-generation solar cell technology. A perovskite-organic tandem solar cell, developed by researchers at the Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, has attained a certified power conversion efficiency of 28.04%, setting a new world record. This accomplishment provides a novel strategy for further enhancing the efficiency and operational stability of solar cells.
The most significant capabilities of this new generation of solar cells are their thin, lightweight, and flexible nature, allowing them to be applied virtually anywhere. They also offer advantages in high efficiency and high specific power.
The advanced technology behind this cell stems from its core material—the light-absorbing layer. With a thickness of less than one micrometer, roughly one-hundredth the diameter of a human hair, this layer can be deposited onto flexible substrates like plastic or metal foil. This enables the cells to be bent freely and conform to various curved surfaces.
Unlike traditional, thick, and rigid monocrystalline silicon solar cells confined to rooftops or solar farms, the new generation can be attached to car windows, rolled onto backpacks, and potentially even integrated into clothing in the future—generating power wherever there is light.
The key to this cell's record-breaking efficiency lies in its tandem structure design, which combines perovskite and organic materials.
A standard single-layer solar cell can be likened to a fishing net with fixed mesh size, inevitably allowing some light to pass through unharvested.
The ingenuity of the perovskite-organic tandem cell is that it doesn't rely on just one net, but stacks two layers. The top perovskite layer has a fine mesh, specialized for capturing high-energy blue and violet light. The bottom organic material layer has a coarser mesh, designed to collect lower-energy red and infrared light. This dual-layer approach provides full-spectrum coverage, significantly boosting overall efficiency.
This core technology is now undergoing advanced testing and accelerated application, both on Earth and in space. In orbit, single-junction perovskite and perovskite-organic tandem solar cells have been carried aboard the Shenzhou-23 spacecraft to the Chinese space station. They are conducting dynamic service experiments in the real space environment to verify their reliability and durability, laying the groundwork for lightweight power generation in aerospace applications.
From validation in the space station to everyday applications in terrestrial scenarios, this new generation of solar cells is reshaping energy forms and redefining the boundaries of traditional photovoltaics. It promises to turn every inch of sun-exposed surface into a potential power generation unit, integrating into every corner of our lives.
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