Image: UNSW/Chen Qian
Engineers at UNSW Sydney have achieved a world-record efficiency for an emerging solar cell material, marking a step towards cheaper, more durable and more efficient next-generation solar technology.
The UNSW research team has demonstrated a certified efficiency of 10.7 per cent for solar cells made from antimony chalcogenide, the highest independently verified result globally for the material. The findings have been published in Nature Energy.
The result has earned antimony chalcogenide its first-ever inclusion in the international Solar Cell Efficiency Tables, which track record-setting photovoltaic performance worldwide.
Professor Xiaojing Hao, from UNSW’s School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering, led the research and said the breakthrough addressed a long-standing performance barrier.
“The next generation of technology for solar panels is tandem cells, which is where two or more solar cells are stacked on top of each other,” Professor Hao said. “Each layer absorbs different parts of the sunlight to make more electricity.”
“What researchers around the world are trying to work out is what material is best to use as the top cell, in partnership with a traditional silicon cell,” she said. “Antimony chalcogenide is one of those and very positive, especially given its distinct properties.”
Antimony chalcogenide is considered a promising candidate for tandem solar cells because it is made from relatively abundant, low-cost elements, is inorganic and inherently stable, and has a high light absorption coefficient. A layer just 300 nanometres thick is sufficient to harvest sunlight efficiently.
The material can also be deposited at low temperatures, reducing energy consumption during manufacturing and supporting large-scale, low-cost production.
Despite these advantages, efficiency gains had stalled below 10 per cent since 2020. The UNSW team identified uneven distribution of sulfur and selenium during production as the key issue, creating an “energy barrier” that impeded the flow of electrical charge.
Dr Chen Qian, first author of the paper, likened the problem to driving uphill. “When the distribution of the elements inside the cell is more even, then the charge can move more easily through the absorber rather than being trapped,” Dr Qian said.
The team resolved the issue by adding a small amount of sodium sulfide during manufacturing, stabilising the chemical reactions that form the solar-absorbing layer. Laboratory efficiencies reached 11.02 per cent, with CSIRO independently certifying 10.7 per cent.
Beyond tandem panels, UNSW researchers see applications in semi-transparent solar windows, indoor solar devices and low-light electronics. Dr Qian said the team aims to lift efficiency to 12 per cent in the near future through further defect reduction.
$45,000
2010 ORTECO BTP1000HD
Eltham, VIC
Last week, Incat Tasmania reached another defining moment in maritime history, with the world’s largest battery-electric ship commencing harbour trials…
Researchers have developed a breakthrough method to recover high-purity nickel, cobalt, manganese and lithium from spent lithium-ion batteries using a…
Australian caravan manufacturer Crusader Caravans is reporting strong interest from first-time buyers as domestic travel continues to surge, prompting the…
© 2026 All Rights Reserved. All content published on this site is the property of Prime Creative Media. Unauthorised reproduction is prohibited
© 2026 All Rights Reserved. All content published on this site is the property of Prime Creative Media. Unauthorised reproduction is prohibited

source