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    Perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells

    Also known as perovskite tandem, perovskite-on-silicon, Si-perovskite tandem

    A perovskite-silicon tandem stacks a perovskite solar cell on a silicon cell, raising the theoretical efficiency limit from about 33.7% to up to 43%.[1] LONGi reached a certified 35.5% in July 2026 and Oxford PV began shipping 24.5% modules in 2024, but long-term durability is not yet proven at scale.[2][3][4]

    Editor reviewedUpdated Materials scienceScience
    Key facts

    What it is

    A tandem solar cell stacks two light absorbers. In the perovskite-silicon version, a thin metal-halide perovskite cell sits on top of a conventional crystalline silicon cell.[5] Any single-junction cell is capped at about 33.7% efficiency, the Shockley-Queisser limit. A silicon-perovskite tandem has a theoretical limit of up to 43%.[1] Perovskite layers can be made with low-temperature processes, potentially including printing.[6]

    The efficiency race

    Record efficiencies have climbed steadily. LONGi, a Chinese solar manufacturer, reported 33.9% in November 2023 and 34.6% in June 2024. It then moved through 34.85% and 35.2% to 35.5%, announced on 14 July 2026 and certified by the European Solar Test Installation (ESTI).[7][2] That is above the single-junction limit.[1]

    Records are set on small cells. On larger, more industrial sizes LONGi reported 34.3% on a 261 cm² cell and 32.2% on a 274 cm² cell.[8]

    Commercial status

    In September 2024 Oxford PV shipped what it called the first commercial perovskite-silicon tandem modules. The 72-cell, 24.5% efficient panels came from its pilot line in Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany, and went to a US utility-scale project.[3] The company said the modules can produce up to 20% more than a standard silicon panel.[3] At the time it said the Brandenburg process is the one that will run at high volume, with a gigawatt-scale factory planned for 2026-27.[9]

    The US Department of Energy still says perovskite PV is not yet manufactured at scale. It lists stability and durability, efficiency at scale, manufacturability and validation as the main challenges.[4]

    How it compares

    Single-junction perovskite research cells exceed 26%, so the tandem’s advantage comes from combining the two materials.[10][2] Commercial tandem modules (24.5%) sit well below lab cells (35.5%) and large-area cells (32.2-34.3%).[3][8] Perovskite layers can be made with low-temperature processes, which is part of the cost case.[6]

    What to watch

    The open question is lifetime. Panels need to support decades-long warranties.[11] A June 2026 Joule study found that common high-temperature accelerated tests produced degradation not seen outdoors, which complicates lifetime claims.[12] The perovskite durability debate sets out the competing views; how perovskite solar cells work explains the basics.

    Modules, flexible cells and licensing

    Records on full modules lag behind cells. LONGi said its tandem modules reached independently certified efficiencies of 31.4% and 29.4%. These are company-reported figures.[13] The format is also widening. A Nature paper published online in November 2025 reported a certified 33.6%-efficient flexible perovskite/silicon tandem cell. It kept 91% of its starting efficiency after 5,000 bending cycles.[14]

    Oxford PV has since added licensing to its own manufacturing. In April 2025 it gave Trinasolar an exclusive licence to make and sell perovskite-based products in China, with the right to sublicense.[15] In February 2026 First Solar took a non-exclusive licence for potential US products. The licence excludes crystalline silicon; First Solar develops thin-film perovskite devices on a development line in Perrysburg, Ohio.[16] Both deals are company announcements. Oxford PV’s 2024 plan for a gigawatt-scale factory remains a forecast.[9]

    Questions readers ask

    What is the record efficiency for a perovskite-silicon tandem cell?

    35.5%, announced by LONGi on 14 July 2026 and certified by the European Solar Test Installation.[2]

    Are tandem panels on sale?

    Oxford PV shipped what it called the first commercial perovskite-silicon tandem modules, rated at 24.5%, to a US utility-scale project in September 2024.[3]

    Why are tandems more efficient than silicon alone?

    Stacking two absorbers raises the theoretical limit to up to 43%, compared with about 33.7% for any single-junction cell.[1]

    How long do perovskite tandem panels last?

    That is not yet established. DOE lists stability and durability as the leading challenge, and a 2026 study found standard accelerated ageing tests can mislead.[4][12]

    Sources

    Each numbered claim is a statement we checked against the sources listed with it. Status shows how well established it is.

    1. [1]

      Silicon-perovskite tandems have a theoretical efficiency limit of up to 43%, above the roughly 33.7% Shockley-Queisser limit for single-junction cells. confirmedas of 2026-10-10

    2. [2]

      On 14 July 2026 LONGi announced a crystalline silicon-perovskite tandem cell with 35.5% efficiency, certified by the European Solar Test Installation (ESTI), a new world record. confirmedas of 2026-10-10

    3. [3]

      In September 2024 Oxford PV shipped what it called the first commercial perovskite-on-silicon tandem modules, 24.5% efficient, to a US utility-scale project, from its pilot line in Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany; it said the modules can produce up to 20% more than a standard silicon panel. confirmedas of 2026-10-10

    4. [4]

      DOE lists the main perovskite challenges as cell stability and durability, efficiency at scale, manufacturability and technology validation, and says perovskite PV is not yet manufactured at scale. confirmedas of 2026-10-10

    5. [5]

      Metal-halide perovskites used in solar cells are a family of materials combining organic ions, metals and halogens, with potential for high performance and low production cost. confirmedas of 2026-10-10

    6. [6]

      Perovskite cells can be made with low-temperature processes, potentially including ink-based printing. confirmedas of 2026-10-10

    7. [7]

      LONGi's tandem record rose from 33.9% in November 2023 to 34.6% in June 2024, then through 34.85% and 35.2% to 35.5% in 2026. confirmedas of 2026-10-10

    8. [8]

      LONGi also reported tandem efficiencies of 34.3% on a 261 cm² cell and 32.2% on a 274 cm² cell. confirmedas of 2026-10-10

    9. [9]

      In September 2024 Oxford PV said it planned a gigawatt-scale manufacturing facility by 2026-27, using the same process as its Brandenburg pilot line. reportedas of 2024-09-05· forecast

    10. [10]

      Small perovskite solar cells went from about 3% efficiency in 2009 to over 26%, according to the US Department of Energy. confirmedas of 2026-10-10

    11. [11]

      Perovskite solar cells ideally need to support warranties lasting decades. confirmedas of 2026-10-10

    12. [12]

      A June 2026 Joule study comparing perovskite cells aged 20 months outdoors with lab-aged cells found that standard high-temperature tests (65-85 °C) caused degradation not seen outdoors, while raising light intensity to 2.3 suns reproduced the outdoor degradation patterns. confirmedas of 2026-10-10

    13. [13]

      LONGi said its tandem modules had reached independently certified efficiencies of 31.4% and 29.4% (company-reported). confirmedas of 2026-07-14

    14. [14]

      A Nature paper published online in November 2025 reported a certified 33.6%-efficient flexible perovskite/silicon tandem cell that kept 91% of its initial efficiency after 5,000 bending cycles. confirmedas of 2025-11-10

    15. [15]

      In April 2025 Oxford PV signed an exclusive patent licence letting Trinasolar make and sell perovskite-based PV products in China, with the right to sublicense (company-reported). confirmedas of 2025-04-09

    16. [16]

      In February 2026 First Solar took a non-exclusive licence to Oxford PV's perovskite patents for potential US products, excluding crystalline silicon, and said it runs a perovskite development line in Perrysburg, Ohio (company-reported). confirmedas of 2026-02-24

    17. [17]

      The Materials Project is a US Department of Energy effort to pre-compute the properties of inorganic crystals and molecules and make the data publicly available to speed up materials discovery. confirmedas of 2026-10-10

    Revision history (2)
    1. Page created.
    2. Added LONGi's certified module efficiencies, the flexible 33.6% tandem and Oxford PV's patent licences to Trinasolar and First Solar.

    Created Oct 10, 2026. Last reviewed by an editor on Oct 10, 2026. Next scheduled review: Jan 10, 2027.

    Cite this page

    "Perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells." ContentLora, updated Oct 10, 2026. https://contentlora.com/wiki/perovskite-silicon-tandem-cells

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