Interface passivation for 31.25%-efficient perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 381; no. 6653; pp. 59 - 63
• Main Authors: Chin, Xin Yu, Turkay, Deniz, Steele, Julian A, Tabean, Saba, Eswara, Santhana, Mensi, Mounir, Fiala, Peter, Wolff, Christian M, Paracchino, Adriana, Artuk, Kerem, Jacobs, Daniel, Guesnay, Quentin, Sahli, Florent, Andreatta, Gaëlle, Boccard, Mathieu, Jeangros, Quentin, Ballif, Christophe
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States The American Association for the Advancement of Science 07-07-2023
• Subjects: Calcium Compounds; Crystallization; Dipoles; Electron transport; Energy conversion efficiency; Iodides; Ionic liquids; Open circuit voltage; Perovskites; Phosphonic acids; Photoelectric effect; Photovoltaic cells; Recombination; Silicon; Solar cells; Solar Energy
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.adg0091

Silicon solar cells are approaching their theoretical efficiency limit of 29%. This limitation can be exceeded with advanced device architectures, where two or more solar cells are stacked to improve the harvesting of solar energy. In this work, we devise a tandem device with a perovskite layer conformally coated on a silicon bottom cell featuring micrometric pyramids-the industry standard-to improve its photocurrent. Using an additive in the processing sequence, we regulate the perovskite crystallization process and alleviate recombination losses occurring at the perovskite top surface interfacing the electron-selective contact [buckminsterfullerene (C
)]. We demonstrate a device with an active area of 1.17 square centimeters, reaching a certified power conversion efficiency of 31.25%.