Science

Researchers claim new solar cell method could approach 43 percent efficiency

Engadget reports that an ICFO team's organic cell gained about 0.85 percent efficiency, while its 43 percent ceiling remains theoretical.

Published Nov 8, 2026 · 11:12 UTC1 reports

The short version

ICFO researchers published a method in Energy & Environmental Science aimed at reducing Boltzmann loss in solar cells.[Engadget]
The team replaced an organic cell's front electrode with thin silver, creating an optical cavity that limits wide-angle light emission.[Engadget]
The change raised the experimental cell's efficiency by about 0.85 percent.[Engadget]
The researchers claim the approach could in principle approach 43 percent efficiency, but that figure is theoretical and the work began with organic cells rather than silicon.[Engadget]

ICFO researchers published findings in Energy & Environmental Science on limiting Boltzmann loss in solar cells.[Engadget]
The team replaced an organic cell's indium tin oxide front electrode with a thin silver electrode, creating an optical cavity.[Engadget]
The modified cell still let sunlight in but emitted less light at wide angles.[Engadget]
The experimental modifications improved the cell's efficiency by around 0.85 percent.[Engadget]
The researchers claim the approach could in principle bring solar cell efficiency close to 43 percent, above the 33.16 percent Shockley-Queisser limit.[Engadget]
Chinese firm LONGi unveiled a 35.5 percent efficiency solar cell in July and claimed its PV cell could theoretically reach 43 percent.[Engadget]

The 43 percent efficiency figure is a theoretical projection claimed by the researchers, not an experimental result.[Engadget]
The reporting does not establish whether the organic-cell approach would translate to commercial silicon panels, since the work started with organic cells rather than the silicon used in most panels.[Engadget]

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.