In the last six months, the solar energy industry has seen remarkable advancements across the globe — particularly in solar cell materials and photovoltaic efficiency. Chinese manufacturers and research institutes continue to play a dominant role, achieving world records in tandem and perovskite-based technologies. Meanwhile, universities and companies in Europe, the U.S., Japan, Korea, and Australia have contributed key innovations in flexible devices, organic materials, and stability-enhancing coatings.

This article summarises the most important recent developments, with a focus on new materials, record-breaking efficiency, and emerging commercial potential.

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🔬 1. Global Advances in Materials

🌈 Perovskite and Tandem Technologies

• LONGi (China) reached a world record 34.85% efficiency for a perovskite/silicon tandem solar cell (certified by NREL, USA).
• JinkoSolar (China) hit 33.84% in a tandem design using TOPCon silicon.
• SolaEon (China) achieved 31.38% efficiency with an all-perovskite tandem.
• Qcells (Korea/Germany) demonstrated 28.6% on a full-size M10 commercial silicon-perovskite cell.
• Nanjing University (China) reported 29.1% on a perovskite-perovskite tandem (JET-certified).

🧪 Lead-Free and Flexible Materials

• University of Queensland (Australia): 16.65% efficiency in tin-based, lead-free perovskite — a record for this environmentally friendly material.
• Tokyo City University (Japan): Developed a flexible perovskite/silicon tandem with 26.5% efficiency, the highest ever for a bendable device.
• KIER (Korea): Created a 23.64% efficient flexible perovskite/CIGS tandem, showing high durability and lightweight potential.
• Ningbo Institute of Materials (China): Announced 19.51% certified efficiency in flexible perovskite modules using new π-extended SAM interfaces.

🧬 Organic and CIGS Combinations

• HZB + Humboldt (Germany): 24.6% efficiency in perovskite/CIGS thin-film tandem.
• University of Potsdam + CAS (Germany/China): 25.7% efficiency using a novel perovskite-organic tandem, with improved infrared absorption and low-temperature processing.

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⚡ 2. Efficiency Records: Lab Cells and Commercial Progress

🥇 Record-Setting Cells

Efficiency	Type	Organisation	Notes
34.85%	Perovskite/Silicon Tandem	LONGi (China)	NREL-certified world record
33.84%	Perovskite/Silicon Tandem	JinkoSolar (China)	Using n-type TOPCon
31.38%	All-Perovskite Tandem	SolaEon (China)	Certified record in category
29.1%	All-Perovskite Tandem	Nanjing Univ. (China)	JET-certified
26.5%	Flexible Perovskite/Silicon Tandem	Tokyo City Univ. (Japan)	Best for bendable PV
25.7%	Perovskite/Organic Tandem	Potsdam & CAS	Highest for perovskite-organic
24.6%	Perovskite/CIGS Tandem	HZB (Germany)	Certified by Fraunhofer ISE
23.64%	Flexible Perovskite/CIGS	KIER (Korea)	Lightweight, high-durability

💡 Silicon Innovation Still Rising

• LONGi also set a 27.81% world record for single-junction monocrystalline silicon using HIBC technology.
• JA Solar achieved 26.07% on TOPCon cells with high Voc (748.6 mV).
• Trina Solar set a record 25.44% module efficiency for an n-type heterojunction panel, certified by Fraunhofer CalLab.

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🧪 3. Coatings, Stability, and Surface Engineering

🧊 Stability Enhancements

• Northwestern University (USA) created a halide-blocking layer to improve perovskite longevity by preventing ion migration — a key cause of degradation.
• Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) achieved over 15% in CZTSSe thin-film cells using advanced selenization — a promising non-toxic, earth-abundant material class.

🧴 Advanced Coatings

• Anti-reflective nanostructures designed using AI (in global research) reduced reflectance to as low as 2% — improving photocurrent without extra layers.
• Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech (China) achieved over 18% in inverted organic solar cells by introducing in-situ SiOxNy passivation — boosting both efficiency and durability.

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🇨🇳 4. China’s Dominant Role in Solar R&D

In summary, China’s leadership is clear across both:

• Industry: LONGi, Jinko, Trina, and JA Solar now hold multiple world records.
• Research: Universities like Hainan, Nanjing, and institutes like CAS, NIMTE, and SINANO have delivered world-class advances in perovskite, thin-film, and flexible cells.

These developments are rapidly progressing toward mass production and commercial-scale deployment, particularly in tandem and perovskite-silicon hybrid modules.

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📊 Summary Table

Institution/Company	Technology Type	Efficiency Achieved	Notes
LONGi (China)	Perovskite/Silicon Tandem	34.85%	World Record, NREL-certified
JinkoSolar (China)	Perovskite/Silicon Tandem	33.84%	TOPCon-based tandem
Trina Solar (China)	HJT Panel (n-type)	25.44%	Record module efficiency
JA Solar (China)	TOPCon Cell	26.07%	High Voc (748.6 mV)
Nanjing Univ. (China)	All-Perovskite Tandem	29.1%	JET certified
UQ (Australia)	Lead-free Tin Perovskite	16.65%	Highest for non-toxic PV
Tokyo City Univ.	Flexible Tandem Cell	26.5%	Best for bendable devices
HZB (Germany)	Perovskite/CIGS Tandem	24.6%	Certified by Fraunhofer
SINANO (China)	Organic Cell (SiOxNy)	>18%	Inverted organic innovation

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🔮 Final Thoughts

Between material breakthroughs and record-setting efficiencies, solar energy is undergoing a rapid transformation. China’s solar R&D ecosystem, alongside global partners, is setting the pace. Expect the next wave of commercial solar panels — with 25–30% efficiency, flexible formats, and eco-friendly materials — to emerge within the next 1–2 years.