2026 Perovskite PV Technology Breakthroughs: From Interface Engineering to Record-Breaking Tandem Cell Efficiencies

With the growing global demand for clean energy, perovskite photovoltaic technology, known for its high efficiency and low cost, stands at a critical juncture for industrialization. Since 2026, global research teams have frequently made significant breakthroughs in this field, particularly in the stability and efficiency of perovskite tandem cells, repeatedly setting new records.

As an enterprise dedicated to advancing the application of new energy technologies, Vision Potengtial closely follows these cutting-edge developments. This article will summarize several of the most representative research achievements in the perovskite field from recent periods, revealing the latest progress of this "future photovoltaic" technology.

I. Overcoming Crystallization Bottlenecks: Perovskite/TOPCon Tandem Cell Efficiency Reaches 32.76%

Among the various tandem technology routes, combining perovskite with the industrially dominant TOPCon silicon cells is considered one of the most commercially promising directions. However, the high thermal conductivity associated with thinner silicon wafers has consistently challenged the uniform growth of perovskite films.

Recently, a significant study by Professor Yi Hou's team from the National University of Singapore in collaboration with JinkoSolar Co., Ltd. was published in *Nature Energy*. They discovered that the high thermal conductivity of industrial-grade thin silicon wafers (130 μm) accelerates the crystallization process of the perovskite, leading to pores and defects at the bottom of the film.

To address this issue, the research team introduced a dual-mode binding ligand called 2-mercaptobenzothiazole. This ligand can undergo dual binding with the organic cations (FA⁺) in the perovskite, effectively slowing down the excessively rapid crystallization. The perovskite tandem cell fabricated based on this strategy achieved a certified steady-state efficiency of 32.76% and maintained 91% of its initial efficiency after continuous operation for 1700 hours.

II. Source Control: Thermodynamic Stabilization Strategy Achieves 33.08% Tandem Efficiency

Beyond crystallization kinetics control, suppressing halide phase segregation in wide-bandgap perovskites remains a major challenge for tandem cell stability. The industry previously favored "passive defense" passivation methods, but with limited effectiveness.

In March 2026, a team from Shenzhen University of Technology Advanced Technology, in collaboration with Soochow University and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, proposed a new "thermodynamic inhibition" strategy in *Energy & Environmental Science*. Starting from the nucleation source, the research team screened potassium thiocyanate as an additive to effectively suppress the preferential nucleation of the bromine-rich phase.

This "active inhibition" source control approach not only pushed the efficiency of the perovskite/silicon tandem cell to 33.08% (third-party certified 32.52%) but also demonstrated remarkable stability: single-junction devices retained 98% of their efficiency after continuous illumination for 2240 hours.

III. Interfacial Bonding Technology: Atomic-Level Approach Enhances Stability and Efficiency

In addition to perovskite bulk regulation, interface engineering is key to enhancing device longevity. The team led by Prof. Zhijun Wang at Wuhan University reported an atomic-scale interfacial bonding technology in *Science*.

The team utilized an atomic layer deposition process to fabricate a hafnium oxide (HfOx) interlayer at the charge transport interface. This layer firmly anchors interfacial molecules through strong chemical bonds, significantly inhibiting molecular desorption and ion migration at high temperatures. Inverted structure perovskite cells fabricated using this technology achieved a third-party certified efficiency of 26.6% and showed less than 10% efficiency degradation after operating for over 5000 hours under continuous illumination at 85°C.

IV. Flexibility and Tandems in Parallel: Expanding Application Scenarios

1. Flexible Perovskite Cell Efficiency Breaks 24.47%

In the field of portable energy, teams led by Yongguang Tu from Northwestern Polytechnical University and Rui Zhu from Peking University reported new progress in flexible perovskite cells in *Advanced Materials*. They improved the uniformity of self-assembled monolayers on flexible substrates through a molecular surface self-accumulation strategy, achieving an efficiency of 22.02% on an active area of 1 cm² and 24.47% on 0.1 cm², along with excellent mechanical bending stability.

2. Perovskite/CIGS Tandem Cell Efficiency Reaches 27.3%

Professor Jingjing Xue's team at Zhejiang University showcased results for perovskite combined with copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) tandems in *Nature Energy*. By introducing 2-pyrrolidone as a novel coordination solvent to inhibit the intermediate phase crystallization of high-bromine-content perovskite, they successfully fabricated flexible two-terminal perovskite/CIGS tandem cells with an efficiency as high as 27.3%, demonstrating significant potential in aerospace and mobile device applications.

3. Green Breakthroughs in Carbon-Based Perovskite Cells

The State Key Laboratory of Advanced Processing and Recycling of Nonferrous Metals at Lanzhou University of Technology published consecutive papers in the *Journal of Energy Chemistry* addressing the low hole extraction efficiency and lattice defect issues in carbon-based perovskite cells. They proposed strategies involving P3HT doping and Lewis acid-base defect regulation, achieving a photoelectric conversion efficiency of 18.78%, providing new ideas for low-cost, high-stability commercial applications.

Conclusion

From perovskite tandem cells continuously surpassing the 33% efficiency mark to atomic-level interfacial bonding technologies tackling stability pain points, perovskite research in 2026 is advancing towards industrialization at an unprecedented pace. Whether it is rigid tandems combined with crystalline silicon or flexible lightweight components for the future, the multidimensional development of perovskite technology is reshaping the landscape of photovoltaics.

Vision Potengtial will continue to track these cutting-edge technological trends, committed to advancing efficient and stable perovskite photovoltaic technology from the laboratory to large-scale application, contributing innovative strength to the global energy transition.