The addition of a perovskite thin-film solar cell on the front side of a commercial silicon solar cell promises power conversion efficiencies beyond the theoretical efficiency limit of silicon photovoltaics, which sits at around 29.5%. Advantageously, the cost of adding this perovskite solar cell to form a tandem device should be diluted at the system level by balance-of-system components, making the approach attractive from a commercial perspective.

This contribution will review perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells developments ongoing at CSEM and EPFL PV-Lab, which closely collaborate on the topic. Progress on the deposition of the perovskite absorber using solution-based methods compatible with industrial-sized tandems will be discussed and challenges highlighted. The presentation will review the results of various stability testing procedures, including damp heat, thermal cycling, light soaking and other accelerated aging conditions set up to reveal the failure modes of perovskite solar cells. Finally, applications beyond photovoltaics will be discussed.

Quentin Jeangros received his Ph.D. from the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland, in 2014. After a postdoc on transparent conductive oxides (2015-2017), he was in charge of the activities linked to perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells at the Photovoltaics and Thin-Film Electronics Laboratory, EPFL (2018-2021). Since mid-2021, has been leading the perovskite activities at CSEM. His research interests include the use of advanced electron microscopy techniques to provide new insights into energy materials such as photovoltaic devices.