Ambient processing clears a tandem-solar manufacturing hurdle

What happened

A peer-reviewed laboratory study developed a three-part molecular contact that let small perovskite cells and perovskite-silicon tandems be fabricated in ordinary ambient conditions. A one-square-centimeter wide-bandgap cell reached 21.20 percent efficiency, and the ambient-fabricated tandem reached 31.72 percent, with 31.36 percent independently certified. These are research cells, not commercial modules or field deployments.

Why it matters

Reducing dependence on tightly controlled inert-atmosphere fabrication could remove a manufacturing barrier for high-efficiency tandems, but laboratory efficiency alone does not establish scalable yield, durability, cost, or responsible lead management.

What to watch

• Module-scale manufacturing yield, outdoor lifetime, encapsulation, material use, lead recovery, and independent reproduction.
• Whether ambient processing reduces cost and energy use without sacrificing performance when production moves beyond small laboratory cells.

Sources & evidence

• Ternary self-assembled molecular contact for ambient-processed perovskite/silicon tandem solar cellsPeer-reviewed laboratory device study, Nature Photonics, DOI 10.1038/s41566-026-01925-z, published June 1, 2026.
• UNIST Energy Harvesting Material System Lab publication recordOfficial lead-laboratory publication list identifying the study and its Nature Photonics publication.

Topics

• Tandem Solar
• Perovskites
• Solar Manufacturing
• Laboratory Research