Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells Crossed 25.6% Efficiency
Researchers utilized a new molecular co-assembly technique to boost surface coverage and improve long-term device stability.
Updated on Sept. 20, 2026 in Energy
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International researchers have reached certified efficiencies above 25.6% in inverted perovskite solar cells using a novel molecular co-assembly strategy. The findings, published in Nature Communications, demonstrate an approach that suppresses molecular self-aggregation to improve energy conversion.
Why it matters
This research provides a pathway to minimize energy losses in perovskite photovoltaics, a critical step for commercializing high-efficiency thin-film solar technology. By increasing surface coverage, the method addresses a major bottleneck in maintaining power output over time.
A 0.012-square-inch cell achieved a power conversion efficiency of 26.32%, while a larger 0.155-square-inch cell reached 25.34%. Encapsulated devices retained 93% of their efficiency after 1,150 hours of operation.
The players
Nature Communications
A peer-reviewed, open-access scientific journal that publishes high-quality research from across the natural sciences.
The details
The team employed a co-assembly approach combining the symmetric molecule MeO-2PACz with the asymmetric molecule DTCA. This combination increases surface coverage by suppressing molecular self-aggregation—a process where molecules clump together, creating gaps on the substrate. Researchers verified these surface properties using quantitative atomic force microscopy-infrared spectroscopy, a high-resolution imaging technique that measures both physical structure and chemical composition at the nanoscale.
Timeline
September 20, 2026: The research findings were published in Nature Communications.
The Tech Race
This achievement adds a new performance benchmark to the ongoing research program to stabilize and scale thin-film solar materials. It directly competes with other attempts to solve the stability-efficiency trade-off inherent in inverted perovskite architectures.
This remains a research-stage development, meaning these high-efficiency cells are not yet available for commercial or residential solar installations. Future work will focus on applying these design principles to large-area modules and tandem solar cells to prove long-term viability.
The takeaway
The study confirms that controlling molecular distribution on solar surfaces is essential for achieving stability in high-efficiency perovskite devices. Observers should track future publications from this team regarding their planned expansion into large-area module manufacturing.
Further reading
For broader context on next-generation power generation, explore the latest research in /Energy.
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