December 2024

Researchers from City University of Hong Kong have introduced a novel and durable 2D thermochromic perovskite, Tha₂MAPbI₄ (TMPI, Tha = thiourea, MA = methylamine), wherein Tha acts as a Lewis acid-base adduct. TMPI demonstrates a reversible transition, achieving 83.7% luminous transmittance in the cold state and 35.2% in the hot state, thereby showcasing a substantial solar modulation ability of 24.7%. 

The background for this development is that despite growing interest in thermochromic metal halide perovskite (MHPs) for smart window applications, existing MHP smart windows predominantly feature 3D perovskite, which exhibits a deficiency in environmental stability, presenting persistent challenges for practical applications. 

Hanwha Solutions Qcells Division (Hanwha Qcells), a global leader in complete clean energy solutions, has announced a new world record, reaching 28.6% for tandem solar cell efficiency on a full-area M10-sized cell that can be scaled for mass manufacturing. This result was achieved despite having only begun large-area tandem development in 2023.

“The tandem cell technology developed at Hanwha Qcells will accelerate the commercialization process of this technology and, ultimately, deliver a great leap forward in photovoltaic performance,” said Danielle Merfeld, Global CTO at Hanwha Qcells. “We are committed to advancing the next generation of solar energy efficiency and will keep investing significantly in research and development to drive progress in this field, as every kilowatt counts on the path to building a more sustainable future.”  

Nexwafe, a German wafer manufacturer, said that a perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell it developed in partnership with the Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology (CSEM) has achieved a power conversion efficiency of 28.9%.

The tandem perovskite 2-junction cells used NexWafe’s EpiNex wafers and demonstrated their potential for advanced solar technologies. The company stated that with superior smoothness at the nano-scale, EpiNex wafers provide the ideal platform for the next generation of low-cost, solution-processed tandem perovskite cells.

In November 29, Hangzhou Xianna Optoelectronic Technology Co., Ltd. delivered its perovskite α-tandem modules for the China Three Gorges New Energy 50 MW PV demonstration project, in what is said to mark the first commercial application of four-terminal perovskite-silicon tandem modules in China. 

Once the PV power plant utilizing these tandem modules is completed and connected to the local grid, it will significantly alleviate the local grid's supply-demand imbalance, reduce environmental pollution, and improve air quality. The design work for a 500 kW demonstration plant has already been completed, with plans to collaborate with engineering institutes for on-site module layout design. The demonstration plant is expected to be connected to the grid and operational by the end of 2024.

Homerun Resources has signed a binding agreement to acquire Halocell Europe, a perovskite solar technology company, aiming to advance the commercialization of perovskite solar cells. Homerun Resources has agreed to purchase all of the issued and outstanding shares of Halocell Europe from Halocell Energy. This acquisition positions Homerun as a key player in the solar energy market, leveraging Halocell’s expertise and ongoing projects in Europe.

Homerun is developing a vertically integrated business within the energy transition focused on the solar and energy storage sectors. Halocell focuses on research and development of perovskite technology to produce perovskite solar cells. Halocell Europe has more than EUR 2 million in active grants for research and commercial development projects and has received more than EUR 5 million in grant contributions from various European institutions. Halocell Europe has 18 months of working capital coverage in place for current operations.

We are excited to announce the 2025 Perovskite Connect Conference, scheduled for October 22-23, 2025, in Berlin, Germany.

This in-person event will unite leading experts from academia and industry to explore the latest advancements and challenges in perovskite technology. Distinctively, the conference will focus on an industry-oriented approach, emphasizing networking opportunities and strategies for market entry rather than solely technical discussions. Attendees can look forward to engaging activities such as tours, masterclasses, exhibition and more!

Perovskite Connect, organized by Perovskite-Info and Techlbick, will be co-located with the Future of Electronics RESHAPED event, a major gathering for the printed, flexible, large-area, and roll-to-roll (R2R) electronics sectors. This synergy is key, as these technologies are integral to the development and mass production of perovskites. Together, these events are expected to attract over 600 participants, feature 80 exhibitors, and host 70 insightful talks. In addition to the Berlin show, Perovskite Connect includes a year-long program of online events, and access to over a thousand past related webinars and presentations.

Researchers from China's Tianjin University of Technology, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, North China Electric Power University and South China University of Technology have shown that the introduction of azetidinium iodide (AZI) into the precursor solution of a 1.77 eV bandgap FA_0.8Cs_0.2Pb(I_0.6Br_0.4)₃ perovskite significantly improves the efficiency and stability of the perovskite cells. 

Devices fabricated with 2 mol% AZI (relative to FAI, noted as AZ2) in perovskite layer exhibited a high PCE of 19.16 % and a high open-circuit voltage of 1.31 V. When stored under nitrogen atmosphere and illuminated under 1 sun conditions for 300 h, AZ2 device retained 80 % of the initial values. 

A team of researchers from Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), the Helmholtz Institute Erlangen-Nürnberg for Renewable Energy (HI ERN) and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) have developed a closed process for finding optimal high-performance materials for perovskite solar cells (PSC). The approach introduced in the study combines computer-assisted modeling, autonomous synthesis platforms and quantum theoretical calculations for characterizing molecules in order to be able to predict suitable material combinations and to test them in an automated fashion.

“What is the best way to find new materials for photovoltaic components that already have the optimal properties for this application?” This is the question that Prof. Christoph Brabec, speaker of the FAU Profile Center Solar and Chair of Materials Science and Engineering, has spent over a year exploring together with 22 researchers from the disciplines of chemistry, materials science and engineering, computer science and electrical engineering.

According to reports, China Huaneng (China Huaneng Group Co., Ltd.) has achieved a power conversion efficiency of 26.12% on its self-developed large-size perovskite silicon tandem cell, and the result was certified by a third-party testing institution.

China Huaneng stated that after more than ten years of research, it has established a systematic platform for R&D, pilot testing and analysis of perovskite cells, mastered the technology of large-area high-efficiency perovskite and tandem solar modules, and taken the lead in the application of perovskite photovoltaic technology, carried out the verification of kilowatt-scale solar systems using perovskite modules in various scenarios, and built the first megawatt-scale solar system using large-scale perovskite products in overseas.

Saule Technologies has announces that it will work with H.I.S. Co., Ltd. and Lawson, Inc. to start a pilot demonstration using film-type perovskite solar cells at "Green Lawson" from Monday, December 16, 2024.

Lawson is a large chain of retail grocery stores based in Japan, and it was stated that the cooperation will include Perovskite Electronic Shelf Labels and Power Generation Panels.