Perovskite solar cells, celebrated as the "future light" in photovoltaics for their high conversion efficiency, low cost, lightweight design, and flexibility, have long been hindered from industrialization due to their critical instability flaw.
On March 7, Professor Hou Yu and Professor Yang Shuang from the Clean Energy Materials and Devices team at East China University of Science and Technology's School of Materials Science and Engineering published groundbreaking research in Science. Their study first revealed the key mechanism behind new photovoltaic instability—the photo-mechanical induced decomposition effect—and proposed a graphene-polymer mechanical reinforcement method for perovskite materials. The resulting solar cells achieved a T97 operational lifespan (maintaining over 97% initial efficiency) of 3,670 hours under standard sunlight and high-temperature conditions. This breakthrough offers a novel solution for perovskite solar cell industrialization.
Technological Breakthrough: From "Short-Lived Curse" to 3,670 Hours of Stable Operation
1. Core Issue: Photo-Mechanical Effects as "Hidden Killer"
While conventional research attributed perovskite degradation to environmental factors like moisture, oxygen, and heat, the team discovered that dynamic localized stress in perovskite materials under illumination is the primary culprit. Light exposure causes perovskite crystals to expand over 1% through the "photo-striction effect," accumulating stress at grain boundaries and triggering microcracks that ultimately lead to material decomposition and efficiency collapse. This mechanism was named "photo-mechanical induced decomposition effect."
2. Innovative Solution: Graphene "Bulletproof Vest" Coupled with Polymer Technology
The team developed an ultrathin protective layer combining graphene (with modulus up to 1 TPa) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) to coat perovskite surfaces. This structure doubled the modulus and hardness of perovskite films, reducing lattice deformation from +0.31% to +0.08%, effectively suppressing photo-induced expansion and lateral ion diffusion. Tests showed the new cells maintained 97% efficiency after 3,670 hours (≈153 days) under simulated intense light and high temperatures—setting an international record for similar experiments.
3. Technical Advantages: Balancing Performance and Cost
Compared to traditional silicon cells, perovskite cells can reduce production costs by two-thirds while offering lightweight advantages (achievable as thin films or flexible forms) and higher theoretical efficiency (single-junction cells exceeding 33%). This breakthrough addresses lifespan limitations, paving the way for large-scale applications.
Industrialization Prospects: a Green Revolution From Laboratories to Thousands of Households
1. Expanding Application Scenarios
- Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV): Transparent power-generating glass for building facades/windows, enabling self-sufficient energy models.
- Flexible Electronics: Developing foldable charging blankets, solar phone films, and portable power solutions for outdoor use.
2. Accelerating Commercialization
The team disclosed ongoing corporate partnership trials. Mass production could bring revolutionary changes: perovskite cells are estimated to cost one-third of silicon cells, with further efficiency improvements possible.
Global Impact & ESG Value
1. Advancing "Dual-Carbon" Goals
Widespread perovskite adoption could accelerate renewable energy replacement of fossil fuels. If 10% of global buildings adopted this technology, annual power generation could meet hundreds of millions of households' needs.
2. Promoting Energy Equity
Low-cost characteristics make it suitable for developing countries and remote areas, addressing energy poverty in alignment with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG7).
This scientific breakthrough by ECUST researchers marks a turning point for perovskite cells transitioning from lab to market. It not only provides practical solutions to long-term stability challenges but also injects new hope into new energy industrialization. With future industry collaborations and technology transfer, this achievement could lead a global photovoltaic revolution—promoting cheaper, more efficient, and thinner solar panels while offering a "Chinese solution" to worldwide energy and environmental challenges.
Author: Qinger
