Imagine bending your solar-powered backpack without missing a beat! 🔄☀️ Researchers from mainland China’s Soochow University just smashed efficiency and durability barriers for flexible tandem solar cells.
China Science Daily reported on January 5, 2026, that the study was published in Nature on January 1, 2026. The team tackled two big hurdles: flexible cells usually underperform rigid panels, and they can delaminate or degrade when bent repeatedly.
To fix this, they designed a dual-layer "loose-tight" buffer that soaks up mechanical stress while keeping electron flow smooth at the nanoscale. They also created hydrogen-doped indium-cerium oxide films via reactive plasma deposition – think of it as a protective, charge-friendly coating that limits damage.
These tweaks led to a certified conversion efficiency of 33.6% on an ultra-thin 60-micron silicon substrate – now the world record for flexible tandem cells. Plus, a large-area device (261 cm2) hit 29.8%, another global best for its size. 💪
Durability? Next-level. The flexible cells kept 97% of their initial efficiency after 43,000 extreme bending cycles, proving they can handle real-world wear and tear.
This milestone lays the groundwork for mass production of bendable photovoltaics – think roll-out solar chargers, curved panels on EVs, or even smart textiles. The silicon-based solar industry just got a huge boost! 🚀
Reference(s):
Chinese researchers achieve breakthrough in flexible solar cells
cgtn.com
