Researchers from Soochow University and the LONGi Central R&D Institute have developed a tandem perovskite-silicon solar cell with a 34% efficiency rate. The design addresses the challenge of creating a uniform perovskite layer on textured silicon surfaces, which typically leads to charge carrier loss.
To optimize the interface, the team introduced zirconium dioxide nanoparticles between the conductive oxide and the molecular monolayer. This modification allows the perovskite solution to spread evenly, forming a dense film with larger crystalline grains and fewer voids.
The implementation of these nanoparticles nearly doubled the carrier lifetime, increasing it from 1.46 to 2.81 microseconds. The experimental prototype achieved the reported 34% efficiency, marking a significant improvement in performance for tandem solar technology.
The team also conducted durability tests on sealed solar cells under continuous artificial sunlight at room temperature. After 2000 hours of exposure, the modules maintained 84% of their initial efficiency, demonstrating the stability of the new structural approach.
