A Tiny Molecule with Massive Potential
A newly developed material has significantly improved the performance of perovskite solar cells.
July 18, 9:30 PM
Led by Steve Albrecht, a team from the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin in Germany has created a novel material called mCB-FMN, derived from carborane. This substance has been shown to greatly enhance the efficiency of perovskite solar cells. In a single perovskite cell, the material boosted efficiency by 1.5 percentage points. Even more impressive, tandem perovskite-silicon cells saw a gain of 2.4 percentage points. The innovation has been patented and won an award at the 2025 TandemPV international workshop.
The project involved collaboration with experts from Kaunas University of Technology in Lithuania. Previously, perovskite cells used a layer of C60 material, but mCB-FMN is more effective at transferring electrons—the key reason for the efficiency jump. Individual perovskite cells can now convert over 27% of sunlight into electricity, while tandem perovskite-silicon cells surpass the 35% mark.
Advantages of the New Material
A thin film of mCB-FMN can be applied from the vapor phase at lower temperatures, making the manufacturing process more energy-efficient. The development has already been filed as a European patent application and is now entering the market, opening up new possibilities for solar energy.
The introduction of mCB-FMN could significantly reshape the solar energy market, as higher efficiency makes perovskite cells more competitive with traditional silicon technologies. With global demand for renewable energy rising, such innovations may accelerate the shift toward a more sustainable energy system. This work also highlights the critical role of international scientific collaboration in advancing clean energy solutions.
As advancements in solar technology continue to emerge, it's essential to explore how these innovations compare to existing benchmarks. For instance, recent progress by German physicists has established a new standard for solar cell efficiency, highlighting the competitive landscape of renewable energy solutions. To learn more about this significant achievement, check out the details in our article on the latest efficiency records in solar technology.