Device Performance of Emerging Photovoltaic Materials (Version 6)

This 6th annual Emerging PV Report surveys peer-reviewed advances since August 2024 across perovskite, organic, kesterite, matildite, antimony seleno-sulfide, selenium, and tandem solar cell architectures. Updated graphs, tables, and analyses compile the best-performing devices from the emerging-pv.org database, benchmarking power conversion efficiency (PCE), flexible photovoltaic fatigue factor (F), light-utilization efficiency (LUE), and stability-test energy yield (STEY) against detailed-balance efficiency limits as functions of photovoltaic bandgap, and average visible transmittance (AVT) for (semi-)transparent devices. Beyond efficiency, operational stability is assessed via degradation rates (DR) and t₉₅ lifetimes. Highlights include single-junction perovskite cells with efficiencies above 27%, organics surpassing 20%, and new Si/perovskite tandems exceeding 34%. Although multiple record efficiencies have been achieved this year, advances in mechanical robustness and operational stability remain inconsistent, especially in complex tandem stacks, emphasizing the urgent need for standardized protocols, improved large-area homogeneity, and database-driven benchmarks to accelerate the transition from laboratory demonstrations to scalable, real-world deployment.