Efficient flexible solar cells thrive in humid environments

Efficient flexible solar cells thrive in humid environments
by Riko Seibo
Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Aug 01, 2025

The Korea Institute of Materials Science (KIMS) has unveiled a new perovskite solar cell that remains highly efficient and mechanically durable even in humid conditions, potentially transforming solar manufacturing by eliminating the need for controlled environments. The project was led by Dr. Dong-chan Lim and Dr. So-yeon Kim of the Energy and Environment Materials Research Division.

Perovskite materials offer strong potential as alternatives to silicon due to their low cost and flexibility. However, their sensitivity to moisture and limited mechanical durability have hindered commercialization, requiring expensive low-humidity or inert gas manufacturing conditions.

To overcome these issues, the KIMS team developed a defect passivation method that sandwiches the perovskite light-absorbing layer between two-dimensional perovskite films. This architecture yielded flexible solar cells capable of operating stably at up to 50% relative humidity. These devices retained over 85% of their original efficiency after 2,800 hours of continuous use, and 96% after 10,000 bending cycles. In shear-sliding stress tests, they maintained 87% efficiency, highlighting their mechanical resilience.

The research eliminates the need for costly cleanroom environments, significantly cutting manufacturing costs. The technology is scalable and has already been applied to large-area production lines, signaling readiness for industrial rollout. These advances are expected to boost the development of wearable electronics, rollable solar panels, and solar-integrated vehicle systems.

"With this technology, it is now possible to manufacture high-efficiency perovskite solar cells in ambient air without costly equipment, significantly reducing production costs," said Dr. Lim. "In particular, the exceptional durability of the flexible devices makes them promising candidates for applications in wearable electronics and vehicle-integrated solar power systems."

The project was funded by the National Research Council of Science and Technology (NST), the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), and the SuraFlexi joint research program with Switzerland. Collaborating institutions included the University of Fribourg, Pusan National University, and Pukyong National University. The study was published May 31 in the Chemical Engineering Journal.

Research Report:Air-processed flexible perovskite solar cells with superior mechanical reliability and humidity resistance enabled by stepwise interfacial engineering