'Pre-seeding' unlocks large-area solar cells with 23.15% efficiency

Researchers at the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology (QIBEBT) in China have developed a novel "crystal-solvate" (CSV) pre-seeding method to enhance the performance and stability of inverted perovskite solar cells (PSCs). These cells, known for their scalability and power potential, have traditionally suffered from defects and poor structural alignment at the buried interface—the microscopic layer where the perovskite meets the hole-transport layer—leading to efficiency losses and premature degradation. The new approach uses specialized halide nanocrystals deposited on substrates treated with a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) to serve as templates for uniform, bottom-up crystal growth. This method improves wettability, accelerates crystal nucleation, and employs a "lattice-confined solvent annealing" effect that gradually heals defects and reorganizes crystal grains at the interface, resulting in nearly flawless energy-harvesting films. The innovation enables precise control over the buried interface,