GIFT Future Photovoltaics Research Center Reports Molecular Engineering for Efficient and Stable Perovskite/Si Tandem Photovoltaics

A research team from the Future Photovoltaics Research Center at the Global Institute of Future Technology (GIFT), Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU), published a paper in Nature Photonics on July 30, 2026. The paper, titled “Modulating p-n transition of two-dimensional perovskites for efficient and stable perovskite/Si tandem photovoltaics”, proposes a molecular‑dipole strategy to reverse the native p‑type conductivity of two‑dimensional perovskites to n‑type. The novel strategy enables efficient 2D/3D perovskite heterojunctions that significantly boost both the efficiency and long‑term stability of wide‑bandgap perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells.

2D/3D perovskite heterojunctions have become a key strategy for improving the efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells due to their capabilities to passivate defects, suppress ion migration, and mitigate photo‑induced phase segregation in wide‑bandgap perovskites. However, conventional 2D perovskites are intrinsically p‑type, causing energy-level misalignment with the n‑type electron transport layers in p-i-n devices. To address this bottleneck, the researchers developed a molecular dipole‑moment modulation strategy that precisely modulates the Fermi level and defect behavior, thereby converting 2D perovskites from p‑ to n‑type and forming well‑matched 2D/3D interfaces with wide‑bandgap 3D perovskites.

Figure 1. Mechanism of molecular dipole‑modulated p-n transition in 2D perovskites.

With this strategy, the open‑circuit voltage of 1.68‑eV wide‑bandgap p-i-n perovskite solar cells rises from 1.16 V to 1.26 V and power conversion efficiency climbs from 20.19% to 23.40%. When integrated with silicon heterojunction bottom cells, the monolithic two‑terminal perovskite/silicon tandems achieved a certified efficiency of 33.64%. They retained 92% of their initial efficiency after 1,100 hours of maximum‑power‑point tracking, demonstrating excellent operational stability. The study provides a new pathway for designing 2D perovskite materials and offers both theoretical and technical foundations for advancing perovskite/silicon tandem photovoltaics.

Guohao Jia (Ph.D. student, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, SJTU), Zeyu Zhang (postdoctoral researcher, GIFT Future Photovoltaics Research Center), and Dr. Zhen Jia (Chint New Energy) are co-first authors of the paper. Yao Wang (Assistant Research Professor, Future Photovoltaics Research Center) is the co-author. Bowei Li (Assistant Research Professor, Future Photovoltaics Research Center), Yanming Wang (Associate Professor), Dr. Zijia Li (R&D Director, Chint New Energy) and Yixin Zhao (Professor and Director, Future Photovoltaics Research Center) serve as corresponding authors.

Figure 2. Photovoltaic performance of perovskite/Si tandem cells.

Author Profiles

Zeyu Zhang

Postdoctoral fellow at GIFT Future Photovoltaics Research Center. Dr. Zhang received his Ph.D. degree from New Jersey Institute of Technology, USA. He has published more than 20 papers in journals including Science, Acc. Chem. Res., ACS Nano, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., and Adv. Mater.

Bowei Li

Assistant Research Professor at GIFT Future Photovoltaics Research Center. Prof. Li received his Ph.D. degree from the University of Surrey, UK. His research focuses on inverted perovskite solar cells, device stability, and degradation mechanisms. He has published over 30 papers in journals such as Science, Nature, Nat. Photonics, J. Am. Chem. Soc., and Adv. Mater. 

Yanming Wang

Associate Professor at GIFT Future Photovoltaics Research Center. Prof. Wang received his Ph.D. degree from Stanford University, USA. His research focuses on multi‑scale modeling and AI for advanced energy materials. He has published over 80 papers in journals such as Science, Nature, Nat. Commun., and Sci. Adv., holds 1 US patent and 7 software copyrights, and leads more than 10 projects funded by NSFC, MOST, and the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Science and Technology. He serves as a young editorial board member for the Journal of Energy Chemistry.

Yixin Zhao

Chair Professor and Director of the Future Photovoltaics Research Center. His honors include the National Young Talents Program, Fok Ying-Tong Education Fund of China, Shanghai Dawn Scholar Program, National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholar, Shanghai Outstanding Young Academic Leader, first place in the Shanghai Natural Science Award, and Qingshan Science and Technology Award. He is a member of the Energy Chemistry Committee of the Chinese Chemical Society and the Solar Materials Committee of the Chinese Materials Society. He has published over 200 papers in journals, including Science, Nature, Nat. Mater., Nat. Sustain., Natl. Sci. Rev., JACS, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., and Adv. Mater., with over 31,000 citations. He has been listed as a Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher for eight consecutive years (2018-2025), and one of his papers was selected as one of “China's 100 Most Influential International Academic Papers of 2019”.