Self regulated molecular anchoring drives stable high efficiency perovskite solar cells
by Riko Seibo
Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Sep 25, 2025
As perovskite solar cells (PSCs) move closer to commercialization, researchers are addressing hidden performance losses at the buried electron-transport interface. A team led by Prof. Guozhen Liu, Prof. Zhihua Zhang, and Prof. Xu Pan has developed a single-molecule strategy called self-regulated bilateral anchoring that enhances efficiency and durability in both rigid and flexible devices.
The buried interface is prone to oxygen vacancies, misaligned energy levels, mechanical stress, and solvent-related instability, all of which hinder long-term performance. The team employed squaric acid (SA) as a molecular bridge. Its dual carboxylic acid groups bond with both SnO2 and perovskite Pb2+, forming a robust and solvent-resistant connection.
This bonding simultaneously heals defects, improves carrier mobility, and releases residual stress by shifting tensile forces into beneficial compression during thermal processing. As a result, charge transport is more efficient, and the lattice structure gains resilience against cracking.
The results are notable: rigid PSCs achieved a record power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 25.50 percent, while flexible versions reached 24.92 percent with minimal hysteresis. Large-area devices (1 cm2) still reached 24.01 percent, confirming scalability. Stability tests showed that unencapsulated cells retained over 90 percent of peak efficiency after 3840 hours in humid air, and flexible devices endured 10,000 bending cycles with less than 10 percent loss.
The universal compatibility of the method with spin, blade, or slot-die coating on diverse substrates-including glass, PEN, and stainless steel-positions this innovation for industrial rollout. The researchers are now transferring the SA interlayer to roll-to-roll fabrication and 30 + 30 cm2 minimodules, with certification efforts planned within two years.
This work highlights squaric acid as a practical, single-component modifier that addresses multiple performance bottlenecks at once, marking a significant advance toward stable, commercially viable PSCs exceeding 25 percent efficiency.
Research Report:Self-Regulated Bilateral Anchoring Enables Efficient Charge Transport Pathways for High-Performance Rigid and Flexible Perovskite Solar Cells
Related Links
Shanghai Jiao Tong University
All About Solar Energy at SolarDaily.com
