At HZB, the record for tandem solar cells—those with a silicon bottom cell and a perovskite top cell—that have been in existence for the longest time has once again been beaten. 32.5% of the incident solar radiation is converted into electrical energy by the innovative tandem solar cell. The tandem cell was measured by the Italian certification body European Solar Test Installation (ESTI), which formally validated the value and included it to the National Renewable Energy Lab’s (NREL) list of solar cell technologies.
Perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells’ efficiency might be improved by scientists from HZB. “This is a significant advancement that we did not anticipate a few months ago. The PV Competence Center (PVComB) and the HySPRINT Innovation lab teams in particular have collaborated effectively and with enthusiasm at HZB “Professor Steve Albrecht explains.
changes to the user interface
The perovskite composition utilised by Albrecht’s team included an extremely clever interface adjustment. Dr. Silvia Mariotti and Dr. Eike Köhnen, postdocs in Albrecht’s group, served as the paper’s main authors. They created an interface alteration to lessen charge carrier recombination losses and used in-depth research to comprehend the change’s unique qualities. Then, with the assistance of Lea Zimmermann, a master’s student, these discoveries were successfully integrated with solar cells and other optical advancements.
To make the tandem cells successful, many additional scientists and professionals contributed to their design and production. The interface and optical alterations combined to provide the greatest photovoltages (open-circuit voltage) and a new record efficiency for this intriguing tandem technology.
quick progress
The field has had significant advancements in efficiency over the last several years, particularly in the previous month, from a variety of research institutions and businesses: In late 2021, many teams from HZB established a record figure with a 29.8% efficiency, which was made possible by periodic nanotextures. A certified tandem cell over the 30% barrier was first reported by the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland, in summer 2022. This cell’s efficiency increased dramatically from 2021’s figure to 31.3%, breaking above the 30% barrier.
The record is reestablished at HZB with the new certified value of 32.5%. “The new value reveals that the perovskite/silicon tandem technology is extremely promising for contributing to a sustainable energy source, and we are really happy about that,” adds Albrecht. Prof. Bernd Rech, head of science at HZB, claims: “The solar cell efficiency of the HZB tandems has now surpassed that of pricey III/V semiconductors, reaching 32.5%. The NREL graph amply demonstrates how amazing the most recent gains from EPFL and HZB are.”
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