Scientists in Singapore have made an important breakthrough that could help bring a new generation of ultra-efficient solar panels into everyday use.
Researchers at the National University of Singapore (NUS) have developed a new vapor-deposition technique that greatly improves the durability of perovskite–silicon tandem solar cells, a promising technology that can generate more electricity than today’s standard silicon panels.
Perovskite–silicon tandem cells stack two different light-absorbing materials on top of each other.
By capturing more of the sun’s energy, they can exceed 30 percent efficiency, far higher than most commercial solar panels.
The challenge has never been efficiency alone. The real problem has been durability.
Perovskite materials tend to degrade under heat and long-term sunlight, making them difficult to use outside the lab.
The new study, published in Science, shows that this problem may finally be close to being solved.
For the first time, vapor deposition—a manufacturing method already common in industry—has been successfully used to make high-quality perovskite layers on industrial silicon wafers.
These wafers have microscopic pyramid-shaped textures that help trap light, but they are also very difficult to coat evenly. Until now, most successful tandem cells were built on smooth, laboratory-style surfaces that are not used in real factories.
The NUS team overcame this barrier by carefully controlling how the perovskite material forms during vapor deposition.
They introduced a specially designed molecule that attaches to the silicon surface and helps incoming perovskite molecules stick evenly, even on steep textured surfaces. This allowed the perovskite layer to grow smoothly and with the right chemical balance.
The result is a tandem solar cell that is not only highly efficient, reaching over 30 percent power conversion efficiency, but also exceptionally stable.
The devices continued operating for more than 2,000 hours under continuous light, and more than 1,400 hours at 85 degrees Celsius. This high-temperature test is a standard benchmark in the solar industry and is meant to simulate harsh real-world conditions.
Very few perovskite-based cells have ever passed such demanding tests, especially on industrial silicon wafers.
This level of stability is crucial if tandem solar cells are to be installed on rooftops, solar farms, and industrial sites, where they must survive years of heat, sunlight, and weather exposure.
By proving that vapor-deposited perovskite layers can meet these demands, the researchers have shown a realistic path toward commercial production.
The next step is to scale the technology from small test cells to large solar panels and integrate the process into pilot manufacturing lines. If successful, this work could help deliver more powerful, longer-lasting solar panels, bringing cleaner energy closer to everyday use.
Source: National University of Singapore.
