Integrating metal-halide perovskites with the industrially textured Czochralski silicon for perovskite/silicon tandem cells shows great promise for low-cost manufacturing and ideal light trapping. However, the conformal growth of high-quality perovskite film on fully textured silicon remains challenging due to the lack of effective regulation of structural evolution and residual strains. 

Recently, researchers from Nanchang University, Suzhou Maxwell Technologies, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, CNPC Tubular Goods Research Institute, Henan Normal University, Southern University of Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Yunnan University, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen) and Fudan University reported a strain regulation strategy by forming a 3D/3D perovskite heterojunction at the buried interface through a vacuum-deposition method applicable to pyramidal texture. They found that the strained heterojunction enables high-performance, fully textured perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells that achieve an efficiency of up to 31.5%.

Researchers from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and Marmara University set out to minimize crystal defects and film inhomogeneities in perovskite top cells, to achieve the full potential of monolithic perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells. 

In their recent work, the scientists discuss the use of methylenediammonium dichloride as an additive to the perovskite precursor solution, resulting in the incorporation of in situ–formed tetrahydrotriazinium (THTZ-H⁺) into the perovskite lattice upon film crystallization. 

Researchers from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Oxford University and the University of Sheffield have developed a molecular treatment that significantly enhances the efficiency and durability of perovskite solar cells. 

A key to the solution was their successful identification of critical parameters that determine the performance and lifespan of halide perovskites. The research team investigated various ways of passivation, a chemical process that reduces the number of defects or mitigates their impact in materials, thereby enhancing the performance and longevity of devices comprising these materials. They focused on the “amino-silane” molecular family for passivating perovskite solar cells.

Researchers from Chung-Ang University, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Hanyang University, The University of Electro-Communications and Chungbuk National University have reported that introducing 4-Phenylthiosemicarbazide (4PTSC) as an additive during the production of tin halide perovskites (Sn-HPs) can boost the performance of perovskite solar cells (PSCs).

Through extensive analyses and experimental comparisons between regular Sn-HP PSCs and those containing the proposed additive, the researchers showcased the multiple functionalities of 4PTSC as an additive. "We purposely chose a multifunctional molecule that acts as a coordination complex and a reducing agent, passivates defect formation, and improves stability," explains Associate Professor Dong-Won Kang from Chung-Ang University, who led the study.

Researchers from Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics in China and the UK's University of Cambridge have reported a scalable stabilization method using vapor-phase fluoride treatment, which achieved 18.1%-efficient perovskite solar modules (228 square centimeters) with accelerated aging–projected T80 lifetimes (time to 80% of efficiency remaining) of 43,000 ± 9000 hours under 1-sun illumination at 30°C. 

The high stability results from vapor-enabled homogeneous fluorine passivation over large-area perovskite surfaces, suppressing defect formation energy and ion diffusion. The extracted degradation activation energy of 0.61 electron volts for solar modules is comparable to that of most reported stable cells, which indicates that modules are not inherently less stable than cells and closes the cell-to-module stability gap. 

Researchers from China's National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and Beihang University have demonstrated a series of ultrastable Dion−Jacobson (DJ) perovskites for photovoltaic applications. They went on to develop a 2D Dion-Jacobson (DJ) perovskite solar cell that showed high stability while achieving a power conversion efficiency of 19.11%.

Schematic illustration of the blade-coating film and the corresponding device configuration under atmospheric environment at room temperature. Image credit: Nature Communications 

Two-dimensional (2D) Dion-Jacobson (DJ) phase perovskites have drawn attention from academia due to their stability against harsh environmental conditions and their competitive performance in optoelectronic applications. Solar cells based on DJ perovskites, however, have so far shown comparatively poor performance compared to their 3D counterparts.

Researchers from China's Huaqiao University and Qufu Normal University recently introduced new materials that promise to enhance the efficiency of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Their study details the development of three novel hole transport materials that may improve solar cell performance.

Image credit: Energy Materials and Devices

The team said that the high price of charge transport materials for perovskite solar cells poses a barrier to widespread adoption. Traditional materials like Spiro-OMeTAD are expensive and complex to produce, making it essential to find more affordable alternatives to advance PSC technology and expand its use.