Recently, significant advancements have been made in the field of perovskite solar cells in China. The team from the School of Materials Science at East China University of Science and Technology published a groundbreaking study in Science, revealing a key mechanism behind the instability of perovskite photovoltaics: the photomechanical induced decomposition effect. They also proposed a novel method to enhance perovskite materials using graphene and polymer mechanics. This research is widely regarded as a potential game-changer for the industrial application of perovskite solar cells.
Perovskite solar cells offer several advantages over traditional crystalline silicon cells, including higher conversion efficiency, lower costs, and lighter weight, making them a promising new technology in the photovoltaic sector. However, instability in these devices poses a significant challenge to their commercialization. Previous attempts to enhance the stability of perovskite materials, such as controlling the molecular structure of the surface, have not sufficiently met practical application needs. Notably, the solar cells developed by the East China University team maintained 97% of their power generation efficiency after operating for 3,670 hours (approximately 153 days) in simulated conditions of intense light and high temperatures.
Industry experts view perovskite cells as the next generation of photovoltaic technology. This latest technological breakthrough significantly improves their stability under various conditions, laying a solid foundation for large-scale commercial application. During this year’s National People’s Congress, several representatives expressed particular interest in the perovskite industry. Wang Gang, chairman of Jinjing Group, stated in an interview that “we are at the beginning of the third technological revolution in the photovoltaic industry.” He emphasized that the flexible and low-light power generation characteristics of perovskite cells could lead to widespread applications in building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) and distributed solar energy systems.
Furthermore, Gao Jifan, chairman of Trina Solar, indicated that in the next five years, the photovoltaic industry will primarily focus on TOPCon technology, with HJT and BC technologies as supportive methods. This could potentially enhance the efficiency, lifecycle, and competitiveness of solar cells when combined with perovskite battery stacking technology.
Given the positive outlook for perovskite solar cells, several publicly listed companies have begun to invest in this sector. China National Nuclear Power Co., Ltd. established China Nuclear Power Optoelectronic Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. in 2023, focusing on the research and manufacturing of perovskite solar cell technology. The company has achieved leading technical specifications for its rigid and flexible large-size perovskite products and has officially launched commercial-grade offerings.
In November 2023, BOE Technology Group announced the initiation of a perovskite photovoltaic project and plans to establish a wholly-owned subsidiary, Hefei BOE Optoelectronic Technology Co., Ltd., dedicated to the research and industrialization of perovskite photovoltaic technology. Wang Gang mentioned that TCO conductive film glass is a core material for perovskite cells, accounting for approximately 34% of the total cost. Over nearly two decades, Jinjing Group has achieved a fully controllable supply chain from equipment manufacturing to product design and mass production, overcoming technological bottlenecks related to uniformity, conductivity, light transmittance, and low resistance.
In 2023, Jinjing Group’s third TCO glass production line began operations, surpassing an annual capacity of 45 million square meters. This achievement elevates the localization rate of core materials for perovskite cells in China to over 95%, successfully supporting leading domestic and international perovskite photovoltaic companies. Additionally, other enterprises, including CATL and Tongwei Co., have also actively entered the perovskite battery research and production space.
According to Zhang Yue, chairman of Beijing Aoyou International Cultural Media Co., Ltd., “The current research progress suggests that perovskite solar cells could become a vital component of the future photovoltaic industry.” However, mass production of perovskite cells still faces challenges related to stability, large-scale fabrication, lifecycle, process consistency, and cost, necessitating further enhancement in research and industrialization.
Gao Jifan noted that the stability of perovskite cells remains a critical challenge. Trina Solar is collaborating with global universities through its national key laboratory in photovoltaic science and technology to advance fundamental research on next-generation photovoltaic technologies.
