Key Takeaways & Executive Findings
- •• Perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells have achieved certified PCEs up to 34.9%, surpassing the Shockley-Queisser limit for single-junction cells. • Flexible perovskite-silicon tandems are promising for aerospace, wearable, portable, BIPV, and IoT applications, but their development lags behind rigid counterparts. • Key challenges include silicon brittleness, interfacial delamination under bending, and long-term operational stability. • Ultrathin silicon wafers with blunt edge optimization have enabled progress in flexible silicon cells and tandem fabrication.
Abstract
Perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells, capable of combining high power conversion efficiency (PCE) with cost-effectiveness, are widely regarded as a leading and pivotal direction for the next generation photovoltaic technology. In two-terminal tandem structure, a crystalline silicon (c-Si) bottom cell is directly series-connected with a wide-bandgap (1.65−1.7 eV) (WBG) perovskite top cell, thereby leverage the complementary spectral absorption properties of perovskite and silicon and improve the overall sunlight harvesting efficiency: high-energy photons are absorbed by the perovskite layer, while transmitted low-energy photons are captured by the c-Si sub-cell. Advancements in WBG perovskite composition and additive engineering, interface modification strategies, and optical and structural optimization have significantly enhanced the optoelectronic performance of such solar cells. Since the initial demonstration of rigid perovskite/c-Si tandems in 2015, nearly a decade of intensive development has enabled this architecture to achieve certified PCEs to 34.9%, exceeds the Shockley−Queisser efficiency limit for single-junction solar cells. Lightweight flexible perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells hold significant promise for a broader range of application scenarios, including aerospace power systems, wearable electronics, portable energy sources, building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) on curved surfaces, and the Internet of Things (IoT). However, the research advances of flexible perovskite/c-Si tandem cell have long lagged substantially behind that of their rigid counterparts. A major obstacle is the intrinsic rigidity of c-Si, which has historically limited device flexibility. In addition, the interfacial functional layers are highly susceptible to interfacial delamination and failure under repeated bending and temperature fluctuations, resulting in stability and lifespan that far inferior to those of rigid devices. The ultrathin silicon wafers with the blunt edge optimization have facilitated progresses in flexible silicon cells and the perovskite-silicon tandem fabrication. While several critical challenges persist towards concurrently attaining high PCE, more flexible, lightweight, robust mechanical durability, and long-term operational stability under real-world environmental fluctuations. These include: (1) The inherent brittleness of silicon continues to constrain mechanical durability, despite improvements in wafer flexibility. (2) Repeated bending of flexible devices introduces dynamic mechanical stress, which severely exacerbates interfacial adhesion issues. (3) Interfa...
1. Introduction
Perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells, capable of combining high power conversion efficiency (PCE) with cost-effectiveness, are widely regarded as a leading and pivotal direction for the next generation photovoltaic technology. In two-terminal tandem structure, a crystalline silicon (c-Si) bottom cell is directly series-connected with a wide-bandgap (1.65−1.7 eV) (WBG) perovskite top cell, thereby leverage the complementary spectral absorption properties of perovskite and silicon and improve the overall sunlight harvesting efficiency: high-energy photons are absorbed by the perovskite layer, while transmitted low-energy photons are captured by the c-Si sub-cell.
Advancements in WBG perovskite composition and additive engineering, interface modification strategies, and optical and structural optimization have significantly enhanced the optoelectronic performance of such solar cells. Since the initial demonstration of rigid perovskite/c-Si tandems in 2015, nearly a decade of intensive development has enabled this architecture to achieve certified PCEs to 34.9%, exceeds the Shockley−Queisser efficiency limit for single-junction solar cells.
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Zhaoyang Han, Qi Jiang (2025). Advancing highly efficient and mechanically resilient flexible perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells. SinoTechIntel Verified Research. https://doi.org/10.1088/1674-4926/25110013
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current record efficiency for perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells?
The certified power conversion efficiency (PCE) for perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells has reached 34.9%, surpassing the Shockley-Queisser limit for single-junction solar cells.
What are the main challenges for flexible perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells?
The main challenges include the inherent brittleness of silicon, interfacial delamination under repeated bending, and long-term operational stability under environmental fluctuations.
What applications could benefit from flexible perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells?
Potential applications include aerospace power systems, wearable electronics, portable energy sources, building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) on curved surfaces, and the Internet of Things (IoT).
How have ultrathin silicon wafers contributed to flexible tandem solar cells?
Ultrathin silicon wafers with blunt edge optimization have facilitated progress in flexible silicon cells and the fabrication of perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells, improving flexibility and mechanical resilience.
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