A new fabrication technique could help bring perovskite solar cells closer to commercial deployment, following research that demonstrates both high efficiency and significantly improved long-term stability.
Perovskite solar cells have long been considered one of the most promising next-generation photovoltaic technologies, combining high efficiency potential with low-cost manufacturing processes. However, despite rapid progress in laboratory performance over the past decade, widespread commercial uptake has been constrained by challenges around long-term stability and defect-related degradation.
A scientific study published in January 2026, Molecular press annealing enables robust perovskite solar cells, reports on a new fabrication approach known as Molecular Press Annealing (MPA). Developed by researchers at Xi’an Jiaotong University in collaboration with Xiamen University, the technique directly targets one of the most problematic steps in perovskite manufacturing: thermal annealing.
Thermal annealing is a critical process used to form high-quality perovskite films, but it can also introduce surface defects, lattice disorder and iodine vacancies. These defects can accelerate ion migration and self-doping within the cell, reducing efficiency and operational lifespan (two key barriers to commercial deployment).
The newly reported MPA method takes a solvent-free approach. During annealing, researchers apply a dense molecular template layer to the perovskite surface using a specially designed ligand, 2-pyridylethylamine. This molecule forms stable bonds with under-coordinated lead ions in the perovskite structure, helping to reinforce the lead-iodine framework and suppress the formation and migration of iodine vacancies.
According to the researchers, the result is a perovskite film with higher crystallinity, lower defect density and improved charge transport properties.
Devices produced using the MPA technique achieved certified power conversion efficiencies of 26.5 per cent for small-area cells (0.08 cm²) and 24.9 per cent for 1 cm² devices. At the module scale, a 16 cm² device maintained an efficiency of 23.0 per cent, which is considered a strong result for perovskite modules of this size.
Equally significant are the durability results. The cells retained more than 98 per cent of their initial efficiency after 1,600 hours of testing at 85°C and 60 per cent relative humidity, under accelerated ageing conditions. The devices also showed minimal degradation after 5,000 hours of ambient storage.
The research was supported by China’s National Key Research and Development Program and the National Natural Science Foundation of China, with Xi’an Jiaotong University acting as the corresponding institution.
While further work will be required to scale the process for mass manufacturing, the results suggest Molecular Press Annealing could offer a practical pathway to addressing one of the key commercialisation challenges facing perovskite solar technology. If successfully transferred to industrial production, the approach could help accelerate the introduction of high-efficiency, low-cost perovskite solar modules into global energy markets.