A team of researchers led by the University of Sydney has fabricated a three-junction perovskite-perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell that achieved an energy conversion efficiency of up to 27.06% and set new standards for thermal stability.
Researchers from the University of Sydney have developed the largest and most efficient three-junction perovskite-perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell to date, achieving a record-breaking efficiency of 23.3% on a device with an aperture area of 16 cm2.
The research team, led by University of SydneyAdjunct Professor Anita Ho-Baillie said that at a size of 1 cm2, the triple-junction cell recorded an energy conversion efficiency of 27.06% at an open-circuit voltage of 3.16 V and retained 95% of its initial efficiency after more than 400 hours of continuous use under light. And according to the researchers, it is a global first: the 1 cm2 encapsulated cell has passed the International Electrotechnical Commission’s thermal cycling test, which exposes devices to 200 cycles of extreme temperature fluctuations between -40 and 85 degrees.
Ho-Baillie, John Hooke Chair of Nanoscience at the University of Sydney’s Nano Institute and School of Physics, said the results demonstrate high efficiency and durability, important steps in overcoming barriers to the development and commercialization of perovskite tandem solar cell technology.
“This is the largest three-junction perovskite device demonstrated to date and has been rigorously tested and certified by independent laboratories,” she said. “That gives us even more confidence that the technology can be scaled up for practical use. Perovskites are already showing us that we can push efficiency beyond the limits of silicon alone. This progress means we are getting closer to cheaper, more sustainable solar energy that will help power a low-carbon future.”
Perovskites are a promising class of PV materials prized for their cheap production and their ability to capture a larger portion of the solar spectrum when stacked in multiple layers with silicon. However, the research team noted that scaling up devices outside the laboratory and ensuring their stability under real-world conditions have been major challenges.
Ho-Baillie, also part of the University of Sydney’s Net Zero Institute, said this latest advance was achieved by redesigning the chemistry of the perovskite material and the design of the triple junction cell.
The researchers replaced methylammonium, commonly used in high-efficiency perovskite cells, with more stable rubidium, creating a perovskite lattice that is less susceptible to defects and degradation. They also replaced the less stable lithium fluoride with piperazinium dichloride for a new surface treatment.
To connect the two perovskite compounds, the researchers used nanoscale gold, deposited on tin oxide deposited in the atomic layer, to maximize the flow of electric charge and light absorption by the solar cell.
“We have improved both the performance and resilience of these solar cells,” says Ho-Baillie. “This not only demonstrates that large, stable perovskite devices are possible, but also shows the enormous potential for further efficiency gains.”
Details of the study are described in “Tailoring nanoscale interfaces for perovskite-perovskite-silicon triple-junction solar cells”, published in Nature Nanotechnology. The research was conducted in collaboration with international partners from China, Germany and Slovenia, with support from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and the Australian Research Council.
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