journal article·2026-02-25Open access

Photoswitchable isomers to improve grain boundary resilience and perovskite solar cells stability under light cycling

Zuhong Zhang, Rui Zhu, Guixiang Li, Ying Tang, Hongzhuo Wu, Jinbo Zhao, Jiaxin Wu, Thomas W. Gries, Artem Musiienko, Shengnan Zuo, Zhe Li, Bingchen He, Zhenhuang Su, Xingyu Gao, Weiwei Zuo, Bo Hou, Jorge Pascual, Luca Sapienza, Luyao Wang, Lin-Long Deng, Yu Jia, Gang Li, Paul J. Dyson, Mohammad Khaja Nazeeruddin, Michael Saliba, Antonio Abate, Meng Li

Nature Energy· Volume 11· Issue 4

Abstract

Abstract Realizing stable and scalable perovskite solar cells (PSCs) under real-world outdoor conditions remains a challenge for deployment. Here we report a strategy to improve the resilience of the grain boundary, achieving simultaneous improvement in the power conversion efficiency and long-term operational durability under realistic light cycling and ultraviolet exposure of PSCs. By integrating photoswitchable isomers at grain boundaries, we suppress lattice bond rupture and defect accumulation during repeated light cycling through light-triggered dynamic damage release. This approach stabilizes the triple-cation lead-based perovskite lattice against photoinduced distortions and degradation pathways. As a result, the PSCs retain over 95% of their initial performance after 2,000 h of ultraviolet-containing light cycling at 65 °C and 500 thermal cycles between –40 °C and 85 °C, and deliver a power conversion efficiency of 27.2% (certified as 26.9%). Our strategy improves the operational stability and commercial viability of triple-cation perovskite photovoltaics.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Perovskite Materials and Applications · solar cell performance optimization · TiO2 Photocatalysis and Solar Cells

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