A New Molecular Layer Could Make Tandem Solar Cells More Efficient and Durable

Researchers replaced a widely used C60 electron-transport layer with a carborane-based molecule that reduced energy losses, strengthened adhesion and raised laboratory efficiency by 1.5 percentage points in perovskite cells and 2.4 points in perovskite-silicon tandems. The material is commercially available, but full-module durability and manufacturing economics remain unproven.