Scientists at the National University of Singapore (NUS) have created a groundbreaking solar cell that sets a new world record for efficiency.
This new design, known as a perovskite–organic tandem solar cell, has reached a certified power conversion efficiency of 26.4% over a 1 cm² area.
That makes it the most efficient solar cell of its kind ever made, and it could open the door to powering wearable electronics, drones, and other smart devices using sunlight.
This major achievement comes from the team led by Assistant Professor Hou Yi, a Presidential Young Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at NUS.
He also leads the Perovskite-based Multijunction Solar Cells Group at the Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore (SERIS).
Their research was recently published in the journal Nature.
Tandem solar cells combine two types of materials—perovskites and organic semiconductors—to capture more sunlight across different wavelengths. These materials are lightweight, flexible, and potentially very cheap to produce.
But one key challenge has held back this technology: harvesting energy from the near-infrared (NIR) part of sunlight. Most thin-film solar cells struggle to collect enough NIR light, which limits how efficient they can become.
To solve this, Prof. Hou’s team created a brand-new organic molecule that can absorb NIR light much more effectively.
It has a special chemical structure that helps capture NIR photons and turn them into usable energy, while also keeping the energy loss to a minimum. Tests confirmed that this molecule allows the solar cell to collect electric charges quickly and efficiently.
The team placed this new NIR-absorbing organic layer beneath a high-performing perovskite layer, connecting them with a transparent material that allows light and electricity to pass between the two.
In small-scale tests, the tandem cells achieved up to 27.5% efficiency on tiny samples and 26.7% on larger ones. A certified result of 26.4% on a 1 cm² device officially sets the record for this type of solar cell.
Looking ahead, Prof. Hou says these flexible, ultra-thin solar films could soon be used in smart textiles, medical patches, and AI-powered gadgets—possibly without the need for batteries.
The team’s next steps involve making the technology more stable for real-world use and preparing for manufacturing at a larger scale. This breakthrough brings us closer to solar-powered wearables that are both efficient and practical.
