Academic News
As the world accelerates efforts toward net-zero emissions and renewable energy, high-efficiency, low-cost perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are emerging as a key next-generation photovoltaic technology. A research team led by Professor Ming-Chou Chen of the Department of Chemistry and Taiwan Hydrogen Cluster-Hydrogen Energy Research Centre at National Central University, in collaboration with the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland, has developed a new fluorinated tetraphenylethene (TPE)-based organic interfacial material that enhances electron transport, reduces energy loss, and significantly improves device resistance to heat and moisture. The resulting perovskite solar cells achieved a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 25.29%. The findings were published in Advanced Energy Materials.
The researchers found that the new material suppresses molecular aggregation, improves interfacial contact, and slows perovskite crystallization, resulting in more uniform and well-formed crystals. Photoluminescence, electron-transport, and defect analyses further showed that the material reduces interfacial defects and improves electron collection. Together, these improvements increased the device's open-circuit voltage, short-circuit current density, and fill factor, yielding a PCE of 25.29%, compared with 22.30% for devices without the interfacial layer. The paper reports corresponding photovoltaic parameters of 1.155 V for open-circuit voltage, 26.12 mA cm⁻² for short-circuit current density, and a fill factor of 0.838 for the TFP-TPE device.
Chen's team at National Central University has been specializing in the development and research of organic optoelectronic materials in recent years, establishing a comprehensive technology platform spanning p-type, n-type, and ambipolar organic semiconductor materials. In addition to the 25.29% efficiency achieved in this study, the team has recently developed a new hole-transport material that pushed perovskite solar cell efficiency to 25.66%, while achieving an indoor power conversion efficiency of approximately 44% under low-light conditions—highlighting NCU's growing research capabilities in next-generation photovoltaic materials.
