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Nature Synthesis (2026)
Wide-bandgap perovskite top cells for tandem photovoltaics are constrained by voltage deficit and non-radiative losses. Here we design a series of perovskite derivatives featuring dynamically disordered cyanate anions and demonstrate that the dynamic anionic sublattice engineering alters crystallization kinetics, directing the epitaxial growth of a coherent bulk heterojunction with large-grained morphology. The cyanate anions provide chemical and electronic passivation at grain boundaries and interfaces, neutralizing deep-level traps and suppressing non-radiative recombination. The single-junction wide-bandgap perovskite solar cell fabricated with this method has a power conversion efficiency of 24.35%. When integrated as the top cell in a monolithic perovskite–silicon tandem, a power conversion efficiency of 34.79% (certified 34.29%) is achieved. Exceptional operational stability is demonstrated, with 95% initial performance retained after 1,100 hours of continuous illumination under the ISOS-L-1 protocol. Extended real-world testing over 1,300 hours under the ISOS-O-2 protocol further demonstrates its enhanced stability. This work establishes the rational design of perovskite anionic synthesis chemistry as a powerful route to overcome the intrinsic stability–performance trade-off in perovskite–silicon tandem cells.
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The authors declare that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the paper and its Supplementary Information files. Crystallographic data for the structures reported in this paper have been deposited at the Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre (CCDC) under the deposition number CCDC 2506067, corresponding to RbPbI2OCN. Copies of the data can be obtained free of charge via https://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/structures/. Source data are provided with this paper.
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We gratefully acknowledge the assistance of W. Li from the Analytical and Testing Center of Jinan University for the XPS analysis.
Yousheng Wang discloses support for the research of this work from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (62204099) and Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (2026A1515012693). J.F. discloses support for the research of this work from the Guangdong Recruitment Program of Foreign Experts (MS202500126) and Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (2024A1515013225, 2025A1515010383).
Institute of New Energy Technology, College of Physics & Optoelectronic Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
Qiaoyan Ma, Yousheng Wang, Meng Li, Yuchen Yang, Jianzha Zheng, Yinghui Peng, Daxin Xiao, Jing Peng, Chong Liu, Jiandong Fan & Yaohua Mai
Frontier Technology Department, Chint New Energy R&D Center, Haining, China
Yong Wang, Chenxu He & Zijia Li
Analytical and Testing Center, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
Huanyong Li
Guangdong Mellow Energy Co. Ltd, Zhuhai, China
Yaohua Mai
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Yousheng Wang, J.F., Y.M. and Q.M. conceived of the idea. Q.M., J.F. and Yousheng Wang carried out the experimental work and data analysis. J.F., M.L., Y.Y. and H.L. assisted with theoretical calculations. Q.M., Yong Wang, C.H., J.Z., Y.P., D.X. and J.P. contributed to material and device characterization, including measurements by SEM, PL, TRPL, XPS and tandem device evaluation. The paper was drafted by Q.M., Yousheng Wang and J.F. and subsequently revised and edited with contributions from Yousheng Wang, J.F, Z.L. and Y.M. Yousheng Wang, J.F., Z.L. and Y.M. supervised this project. All authors have approved the final version of the paper.
Correspondence to Yousheng Wang, Zijia Li, Jiandong Fan or Yaohua Mai.
The authors declare no competing interests.
Nature Synthesis thanks Virginia Carnevali, Hairen Tan and the other, anonymous, reviewer(s) for their contribution to the peer review of this work. Peer reviewer reports are available. Primary Handling Editor: Alexandra Grove, in collaboration with the Nature Synthesis team.
Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Supplementary Figs. 1–38 and Tables 1–9.
Crysallographic data of RbPbI2OCN, CCDC number 2506067.
Source data for Supplementary Figs. 25, 28–29 and 35.
Unprocessed raw data for Fig. 3f–i.
Unprocessed raw data for Fig. 4b–h.
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Ma, Q., Wang, Y., Li, M. et al. Dynamic anionic sublattice engineering in perovskite heterostructures for perovskite–silicon tandem solar cells. Nat. Synth (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44160-026-01111-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s44160-026-01111-7
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