University of New South Wales (UNSW) School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering (SPREE) researchers have filed patent protection and are working to scale production of a new class of molecules proven to boost silicon solar cell efficiency, reduce heat, and extend panel lifetimes using singlet fission.
The UNSW team findings published in ACS Energy Letters journal called Singlet Fission c-Si Solar Cells: Beyond Tetracene, reports success using a robust, photostable molecule called dipyrrolonaphthyridinedione (DPND), and confirms the commercial benefits for singlet fission.
UNSW SPREE Lead Researcher Professor Ned Ekins-Daukes said the new class of stable organic molecules has the potential to increase energy conversion efficiencies.
“Crucially, we’ve developed a practical pathway to higher output silicon solar cells, without the cost and complexity of tandems, that industry can now trial,” Ekins-Daukes said.
Image: University of New South Wales
“Silicon modules today typically achieve 20–25% efficiency. Singlet fission could lift that figure beyond 30%, meaning fewer panels are needed for the same energy output, lowering balance-of-system costs and opening applications in space-constrained rooftops, electric vehicles, and building-integrated photovoltaics,” the researchers said.
“By harvesting energy that would otherwise turn to heat, singlet fission reduces silicon cell operating temperatures. Lab and modelling studies suggest panels could run 2.4 degrees Celsius cooler, extending lifetime by around 4.5 years, which lowers replacement costs and increases the value of long-term power purchase agreements.”
They added singlet fission on silicon solar cells can be built on silicon technologies with minimal changes to the silicon architecture.
Unlike most current solar cells, which convert one absorbed photon into a single electron-hole pair, singlet fission allows one high-energy photon to generate two excited electron-hole pairs, effectively doubling the electrical yield from the bluest part of the solar spectrum.
The research says the use of singlet fission molecules on silicon solar cells has the potential to increase energy conversion efficiencies from 29% to 42%.
Recent work by the team, published in Nature Chemistry in 2024, shows how photoluminescence emitted from singlet fission is also linked to the underlying molecular process, meaning light emitted can be used to monitor the process, creating a diagnostic for materials development and quality control in PV manufacturing.
UNSW SPREE Associate Professor Murad Tayebjee said it is now possible to read the light signatures of singlet fission with unprecedented clarity.
“This opens the door to discovering and optimising a wide range of new materials that could one day boost the efficiency of silicon solar cells.”
The research has been supported by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency’s (ARENAs) Transformative Research Accelerating Commercialisation (TRAC008) program, with $4.8 million (USD 3.1 million) in funding to help bridge the gap between lab demonstrations and commercial adoption.
Underpinning strong interest in the technology, industry partners include Jinko Solar, JA Solar, LONGi, Canadian Solar, DASolar, Leadmicro, Jollywood and Xinhao New Energy.
UNSW SPREE Senior Research Fellow Dr Jessica Yajie Jiang said for manufacturers, the attraction is clear.
“More energy from the same module materials, plus cooler running that extends lifetime,” Jiang said.
“We’re now moving from elegant science to practical solar products — and the impact for industry, investors and the environment could be profound.”
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