The Japanese-developed Perovskite Solar Cells (PSC) are the latest innovation in solar power technology. With enhanced practicality through technological evolution and strong government backing, the swift expansion of solar power systems in the 2010s is poised to give way to a substantial surge in PSC adoption in the 2030s, paving the way for a lucrative market.
According to Nikkei, academia is actively researching superior Perovskite materials and collaborating with manufacturers to develop mass-production equipment for PSC. Japanese material companies aim to produce and sell next-generation PSC-related materials suitable for mass production before 2030.
From a Japanese perspective, the advantages of PSC over other solar cells lie in its cost-effective room-temperature printing, versatile and lightweight substrate choices, independence from specific countries for raw materials, and its theoretically high efficiency and durability. Addressing current challenges, like cost, efficiency, and product stability, remains the primary focus of material companies striving to overcome these hurdles.
Nikkei reports that Japanese material companies are actively developing four types of PSC-related materials: NSG's transparent electrode, Mitsubishi Materials' electron transport layer (ETL), Nissan Chemical's hole transport layer (HTL), and Toray's encapsulation film.
Notably, NSG's transparent electrode is currently the fastest-progressing product in the field. The electrode has already seen use in various silicon crystal solar cells, securing orders from the largest US solar cell manufacturer, First Solar. NSG is now transitioning this technology to PSC, with the sample performance of transparent electrodes for PSC significantly increased since 2022, signaling continuous growth.
Nissan Chemical's HTL material addresses the drawbacks of existing PSC HTL film solvent materials by improving its solubility. The goal is to enable various materials to dissolve in the new solvent, facilitating inexpensive and rapid production of large-area PSC HTL. Preliminary samples are already available for manufacturers to reference, with the firm eyeing to commercialize the new HTL by 2030.
Applying food packaging material technology, Toray aims to develop a low-cost packaging film that is only 20% of the current price. Meanwhile, Mitsubishi Materials leverages research experience in materials with a molecular particle size smaller than 100 nanometers (nm) to develop efficient and durable ETL materials.
While several countries are already promoting PSC mass production, Japan, with its advantageous position in PSC peripheral materials, plans to supply these materials to manufacturers worldwide, presenting a strategic opportunity for the future.
Article translated by Jerry Chen
