Bifacial Perovskite Solar Cells Achieve Breakthrough Efficiency with Transparent Electrode

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Dharwad have achieved a significant breakthrough in bifacial perovskite solar cell technology. Published in February 2025, their work details the creation of a novel NiO/Ag/NiO (NAN) transparent electrode that enhances efficiency, durability, and infrared transparency. This advancement paves the way for wider applications of solar energy. The team integrated a hybrid top transparent electrode (TE) composed of a three-layer NiO/Ag/NiO structure. Using a low-energy physical vapor deposition technique, they developed an electrode with exceptionally low electrical resistance and high visible light transmittance, significantly enhancing the performance of these solar cells. The NAN-TE demonstrated power conversion efficiencies (PCE) of 9.05 and 6.54 percent when illuminated from different sides. A high bifaciality factor of 72 percent indicates the cell's ability to effectively capture light from both directions. The cells maintained 80% of their initial efficiency for over 1000 hours without encapsulation. The thin profile of the electrode allows for integration into building materials, tandem solar cells, agrivoltaics, and automotive technologies.