Perovskite solar cells boosted to 26% power with over 1,000 hour life

Researchers from China, Macau, and France have developed a chemical strategy that significantly enhances the durability and efficiency of perovskite solar cells, a promising low-cost photovoltaic technology previously limited by poor stability. By incorporating a hindered amine light stabilizer—commonly used in plastics to prevent sunlight damage—directly into inverted perovskite solar cells, the team neutralized harmful superoxide radicals generated under illumination. This radical-scavenging process is regenerative, continuously protecting the solar material from internal chemical degradation that typically damages the crystal structure and reduces device lifespan. Beyond chemical protection, the stabilizer also passivates defects at grain boundaries and surfaces within the perovskite films, reducing trap states that cause charge recombination and energy loss. This dual action results in larger crystal grains, smoother films, lower defect density, longer carrier lifetimes, and improved energy alignment, collectively boosting power conversion efficiency to a certified 26.74%. Notably, the unencapsulated cells maintained over