BEIJING, October 26, 2026: Chinese scientists have developed a new technique that significantly improves the efficiency and durability of flexible organic solar cells, potentially paving the way for lighter and more versatile solar panels that can be installed on buildings, vehicles and wearable devices.
Researchers at the Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering have achieved a power conversion efficiency of 20.4 percent in laboratory-scale organic solar cells using a technique designed to strengthen the connection between different layers of the devices.
The findings, published in the scientific journal Joule on October 21, represent an advance in addressing one of the major challenges facing organic solar technology: maintaining performance and structural stability under prolonged exposure to heat and sunlight.
New technique improves solar cell durability
Unlike conventional solar panels that rely on silicon, organic solar cells use carbon-based materials to convert sunlight into electricity.
These materials offer several advantages, including flexibility, reduced weight and the potential for transparency, making them suitable for applications where traditional rigid solar panels are impractical.
However, organic solar cells have historically faced challenges related to durability and long-term performance.
Continuous exposure to sunlight and high temperatures can weaken the bonds between the active solar film and electrodes, causing the layers to separate and reducing the device’s ability to generate electricity.
To address this problem, Chinese researchers introduced an extremely thin layer of indium chloride between the electrode and the solar film.
When heated, the material triggers a chemical reaction that creates stronger bonds between the layers, helping prevent separation and improving the structural stability of the solar cell.
Solar cells achieve 20.4 percent efficiency
Using the new technique, researchers developed small laboratory-scale organic solar cells that achieved a power conversion efficiency of 20.4 percent.
The scientists subsequently tested the technology on a larger solar module measuring 15.6 square centimetres.
The larger module achieved an efficiency of 18.8 percent, which researchers described as a record performance.
The results suggest that the technique could help maintain high energy conversion efficiency as organic solar technology moves towards larger applications.
Flexible solar panels could transform renewable energy
Organic solar cells have attracted growing scientific interest because of their potential to generate electricity on surfaces unsuitable for conventional silicon panels.
Their lightweight and flexible design could allow them to be integrated into building materials, vehicle roofs, smartwatches and other electronic devices.
In some applications, partially transparent organic solar cells could also be incorporated into windows or architectural surfaces, potentially expanding opportunities for solar energy generation in urban environments.
The latest research could help overcome technical barriers that have limited the wider adoption of organic photovoltaic technology.
However, further testing will be needed to establish how the improved cells perform over extended periods under real-world environmental conditions.
The breakthrough highlights ongoing efforts to develop solar technologies that combine high energy conversion efficiency with greater flexibility and durability.