Breakthrough in Solar Technology: Researchers Achieve Highest Efficiency Rates with Perovskite Solar Cells
Perovskite solar cells are becoming increasingly popular due to their efficiency, affordability, and durability. However, their main challenge lies in their rapid degradation when exposed to environmental conditions. A research team from Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) in Lithuania, in collaboration with international partners, has made a significant breakthrough by achieving one of the highest efficiencies ever reported for fully inorganic perovskite solar cells. The team also demonstrated for the first time that these cells can operate stably for hundreds of hours, approaching the reliability of commercial silicon solar cells.
Key Takeaways:
- The researchers achieved an efficiency of more than 21% in solar cells, which is one of the best results to date for devices based on fully inorganic perovskites.
- The team demonstrated stable operation for more than 950 hours at 85°C under continuous light in perovskite solar mini-modules with an active area more than 300 times larger than that of standard laboratory-tested perovskite cells.
- The breakthrough was achieved by using a passivation strategy that involves forming a stable 2D layer on the surface of the 3D inorganic perovskite, enabling the formation of robust heterostructures that remain stable even at high temperatures.
- The achievement is significant at a fundamental level, as it was believed that such structures were difficult to achieve in fully inorganic perovskites.
- The successful creation of stable 2D/3D heterostructures opens up new possibilities in materials chemistry and provides more tools for scientists developing more reliable solar technologies.
- The research was carried out by an international team of more than 20 scientists and was published in Nature Energy, one of the most prestigious scientific journals.
Statistics:
- Efficiency: more than 21% in solar cells
- Operation time at 85°C: more than 950 hours under continuous light
- Active area of perovskite solar mini-modules: more than 300 times larger than standard laboratory-tested perovskite cells
- Number of scientists involved in the research: more than 20
Sources:
- "Cation interdiffusion control for 2D/3D heterostructure formation and stabilisation in inorganic perovskite solar modules," published in Nature Energy (2025)
- Kaunas University of Technology (KTU)
- Researchers, Dr. Kasparas Rakstys, Dr. Kasparas, et al.
- NewsRx LLC (2025)