The Eve of a Solar Cell Revolution: Perovskite Breaks Through the 26% Barrier
Turning the energy pouring down from the sun into electricity—to realize that dream, scientists have long battled two barriers: efficiency and durability. Conventional silicon solar cells offer excellent stability, but their manufacturing requires high temperatures and is costly. On the other hand, next-generation "perovskite solar cells" have the groundbreaking feature of being producible in near-room-temperature environments, yet they have suffered from a fatal weakness: vulnerability to moisture and heat.
However, in November 2025, a team from the Chinese Academy of Sciences announced a remarkable achievement that overcomes this weakness.
The Fate of Solar Cells Changed by a Protective Film
A team led by Professor Ge Ziyi at the Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, developed a special molecule called "DCTP." This functions as a "protective barrier" that seals surface defects in perovskite solar cells and prevents the migration of harmful ions.
The most innovative aspect was the property that DCTP dissolves in "low-polarity solvents." Conventional protective materials required strong solvents, and those solvents themselves damaged the delicate perovskite layer. However, because DCTP can be used with mild solvents like toluene or chlorobenzene, it can form a protective film without damaging the solar cell.
As a result, the conversion efficiency reached 26.07%. This is a world record for a perovskite solar cell processed with a non-polar solvent. Even more surprisingly, it maintained over 90% of its performance after operating at 65°C for 900 hours.
What is Perovskite?
To begin with, "perovskite" is a name derived from a mineral's crystal structure. Materials with this structure can absorb sunlight very efficiently and convert it into electricity. Compared to silicon, they have lower manufacturing costs, are lightweight, and can even be flexible—truly the ideal form for next-generation solar cells. I have pasted the article I introduced previously.
The efficiency race is accelerating worldwide. As of 2025, the highest efficiency for a single-junction perovskite solar cell has reached 27.0%.
Furthermore, in "tandem" types that combine perovskite and silicon, LONGi Solar has achieved a staggering efficiency of 34.85%. This is a remarkable feat that exceeds the 33.7% theoretical limit of single-junction silicon solar cells.
The Final Barrier: Durability
However, efficiency alone is not enough for practical application. Because solar cells are used outdoors for decades, long-term stability is essential. The greatest weakness of perovskite solar cells was precisely this durability.
In June 2025, a research team at the University of Surrey succeeded in extending the lifespan of perovskite solar cells tenfold by embedding alumina (Al₂O₃) nanoparticles.
These nanoparticles prevent the leakage of iodine, which causes performance degradation, and also protect against moisture. Tested under extreme heat and humidity, they maintained high performance for over 1,530 hours, compared to the conventional 160 hours.
Perspectives on Next-Generation Technology
We are currently standing at a major turning point in energy technology. Similar to innovative technologies like quantum computing and artificial intelligence, perovskite solar cells are approaching a "quantum supremacy" moment where they transition from theory to practice.
In the world of quantum computing, the focus has shifted from "quantum supremacy" to "practical advantage." Perovskite solar cells are following the same path. From a race to update efficiency records to the establishment of stabilization technologies for commercial production—this shift is exactly what indicates that practical application is near.
Japan's Position
Interestingly, perovskite solar cells are a technology that originated in Japan, invented in 2009 by Professor Tsutomu Miyasaka of Toin University of Yokohama. And for iodine, the main raw material, Japan is the world's second-largest producer, accounting for about 30% of the global market share.
In the early 2000s, Japan boasted the world's highest solar cell installation volume and a 50% global market share. Although it subsequently lost the market to overseas players including China, perovskite solar cells are expected to be the trump card for Japan's "comeback."
Outlook for the Future
The DCTP technology from the Chinese Academy of Sciences is a significant step toward the practical application of perovskite solar cells. With efficiency exceeding 26% and stable operation for over 900 hours, these results indicate that perovskite technology, once a 'laboratory dream,' is finally becoming a 'real-world product.'
Transparent power-generating sheets for windows, lightweight panels covering building facades, and flexible solar cells that can be installed on curved surfaces—the future enabled by perovskite will fundamentally overturn the common sense of solar power generation.
At the forefront of science, the difficult challenge of balancing efficiency and durability is being solved one step at a time. It is safe to say that the solar cell revolution is just around the corner.
Reference Articles
○Scientists boost perovskite solar cell efficiency to 26% with new protective coating (November 2025)
○The Heat in the Next-Generation Solar Cell Race is Rising (March 21, 2024)
○Highest Efficiency Perovskite Solar Cells (2025)
○Highest Perovskite Solar Cell Efficiencies (2025 Update) (July 10, 2025)
○Scientists crack the code to longer-lasting perovskite solar technology (June 11, 2025)
○The Current State of Quantum Supremacy: A Turning Point from Dream to Reality (September 27, 2025)