A Long-Sought Breakthrough in Solar Durability
Perovskite solar cells have long been touted as the “next big thing” in solar energy. These cells use a special crystal structure (perovskite) that can be made from abundant materials and promise high efficiency at low cost. Until now, however, they’ve had one glaring Achilles’ heel: they just didn’t last long enough. Even as lab prototypes achieved over 25% efficiency, their power output would fade too quickly to survive 20-30 years on a rooftop. This month, that narrative changed. In early May 2025, researchers led by the University of Toledo and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) announced a breakthrough solution – adding a simple ionic salt layer – that dramatically boosts perovskite solar cell durability.
