New design solves stability and efficiency of perovskite solar cells

An inverted perovskite solar cell with a new design of hole-selective contacts ©2023 / EPFL Felix T. Eickemeyer - CC-BY-SA 4. Researchers at EPFL and Northwestern University unveil a groundbreaking design for perovskite solar cells, creating one of the most stable PSCs with a power-conversion efficiency above 25%, paving the way for future commercialization. Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) stand at the forefront of solar energy innovation, and have drawn a lot of attention for their power-conversion efficiency and cost-effective manufacturing. But the way to commercialization of PSCs still has a hurdle to overcome: achieving both high efficiency and long-term stability, especially in challenging environmental conditions. The solution lies in the interplay between the layers of PSCs, which has proven to be a double-edged sword. The layers can enhance the cells' performance but also cause them to degrade too quickly for regular use in everyday life. Now, a collaboration between the labs of Michael Grätzel at EPFL and Edward Sargent at Northwestern University, has made a significant leap in designing PSCs with record stability and power-conversion efficiency surpassing 25% addressing two of the most pressing challenges in the solar energy sector.