National University of Singapore Research Breakthrough Using Molecular Innovation to Increase Photovoltaic Longevity and Solar Efficiency
A team at the National University of Singapore found a way to make tandem solar cells work better and last longer. They used a specific molecule, 2-mercaptobenzothiazole, to stabilize the perovskite layer that sits on top of the silicon.
Standard silicon solar panels have a physical limit to how much energy they can convert. By adding this molecule during manufacturing, the team controlled how the crystals formed. This resulted in a power conversion efficiency of 32.76 percent, beating traditional silicon-only arrays.
Durability is usually the biggest problem for these high-efficiency cells. The team ran the experimental panels for 1,700 hours straight. Even after that stress test, the panels kept 91 percent of their original efficiency. This suggests the panels could survive the heat and weather changes of real-world use for years.
This discovery matters because it fixes two major hurdles at once the need for high energy output and the need for a panel that doesn't break down quickly. It gives manufacturers a clearer path to move this technology from a university lab to actual rooftops.
