A review of new science, in plain language

Nature Communications  ·  8 August 2026  ·  From issue 18

In lab tests, a new coating pushed solar cell efficiency to 27.59 percent.

Yi Pan, Lei Liu et al., Self-Assembled Multilayers Reduce Interfacial Energy Loss in Perovskite Solar Cells, Nature Communications.

A new coating helps solar panels made from a special light-absorbing crystal work better and last longer. The coating spreads evenly over the crystal surface. It has tiny chemical arms that grab onto the crystal and fix small flaws, which helps the panel move electricity more smoothly.

The number 27.59%

The efficiency reached by the new solar cell coating in lab testing.

Lab-only test, no outdoor or long-term data yet.

Integrity screen: passed (3 checks) Checked 11 August 2026. Retraction record: none. DOI resolves at doi.org. Metadata record found (Nature Communications). Read the source

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