New Solar Cell Production Process Hits 26 Percent
The UC San Diego method uses a temporary molten salt phase to optimize crystal structure and energy conversion.
Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Energy
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Researchers at UC San Diego have developed a solar cell manufacturing process using a temporary molten salt phase to improve crystalline structure. This research-stage technique utilizes a zinc bromide and methylammonium chloride mixture to produce cells with 24 to 26 percent energy conversion efficiency.
Why it matters
By eliminating electronic traps and structural defects at grain boundaries, this method addresses a primary bottleneck in electrical charge flow. The process potentially enables more efficient and durable solar panel production.
The process reached 24 to 26 percent energy conversion efficiency, maintaining stability throughout an 8-week simulated sunlight exposure test. These figures compare to traditional polycrystalline film performance.
The players
UC San Diego
A public research university recognized for advanced materials science and renewable energy engineering.
Princeton University
A private research university that provided external analysis on the stability and performance of the test cells.
The details
The production method uses a low-temperature mixture of zinc bromide and methylammonium chloride. When heated, the mixture forms a temporary molten salt phase that acts as a solvent, allowing atoms to migrate into a highly ordered crystalline lattice. As the volatile methylammonium chloride evaporates, the crystal boundaries finalize, while zinc ions occupy electronic traps—imperfections in the material structure that capture charge carriers—within the grain interfaces to ensure continuous electron flow.
Timeline
The solar cells maintained power output after 8 weeks of simulated sunlight exposure.
The Tech Race
This development marks a new effort in the race to optimize high-efficiency perovskite-based solar cells. It follows a pattern set by previous NREL-tracked thin-film benchmarks aimed at reducing grain boundary defects.
This technology remains in the research stage and is not currently available for commercial solar installations. Future adoption depends on successful integration into automated manufacturing equipment.
The takeaway
The research demonstrates a viable path to increasing solar efficiency via liquid salt chemistry. Readers should track upcoming trials for automated manufacturing equipment as the primary indicator for commercial scalability.
Further reading
For more on evolving power generation research, explore our Energy section.
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