Researchers at LONGi, a Chinese photovoltaics manufacturer, have set a new power conversion efficiency record using a tandem perovskite-silicon solar cell.
The record now stands at 34.6% – a 0.7% increase from the previous figure. Furthermore, the new record has also overtaken the efficiency of standard silicon solar cells by 7%.
This achievement joins the ranks of other solar cell efficiency records broken by LONGi – 16 times in the last three years.
Announced at the 17th International Photovoltaic and Smart Energy Conference (SNEC) in Shanghai, China, the record came alongside the announcement of a partnership with Saudi energy firm ACWA Power.
Perovskite
According to UK news outlet The Independent, the perovskite mineral has been dubbed a “miracle material” for its potential in the renewable energy field. The upgrade comes as experts look for alternatives to present silicon solar panels, which are now reaching their “physical limits”.
While those current silicon cells have an efficiency limit of 29%, perovskite-silicon solar cells could theoretically reach 43%.
According to LONGi, the new figures were reached by “optimising the thin film deposition process of the electron transport layer, developing and using high-efficiency defect passivation materials, and designing high-quality interfacial passivation structures.”
