Sungkyunkwan University announced the publication of a comprehensive report analyzing technological advancements and global research trends in perovskite solar cells (PSCs), which are emerging as a next-generation solar energy technology.
The report was jointly prepared by the research group of Professor Nam-Gyu Park from the Department of Chemical Engineering at SKKU and the university’s Performance Analysis Team, in collaboration with global academic data company Clarivate. It covers the fundamental concepts and technological evolution of perovskite solar cells, as well as the global research landscape and key trends in the field.
The report highlights a major turning point in 2012, when researchers at SKKU successfully developed the world’s first solid-state perovskite solar cell. Since then, the technology has achieved rapid efficiency improvements over a short period and has emerged as a promising next-generation solar technology. It is now considered a key solution with the potential to complement or even replace conventional silicon-based solar cells.
Based on data from Web of Science, the report also analyzes research performance by country, institution, and researcher. The findings show that the field of perovskite solar cells has grown rapidly since 2012, with China, the United States, and South Korea leading global research efforts. Among them, Sungkyunkwan University demonstrates world-class research competitiveness, ranking highly in key indicators such as publication output, citation impact, and the proportion of top 1% highly cited papers, establishing itself as a major research hub in the field.
The report further emphasizes that perovskite solar cells are a critical technology from both carbon neutrality and ESG perspectives, owing to their high efficiency, low-cost fabrication processes, and lightweight and flexible properties. In particular, advancements in tandem solar cell structures that surpass the efficiency limits of conventional solar cells are expected to further accelerate their commercialization potential.
Professor Nam-Gyu Park stated, “As future energy systems are expected to be largely electrified, the importance of electrification technologies continues to grow. Solar energy, which produces no carbon emissions, is anticipated to play a central role in the future energy landscape. In this context, low-cost, high-efficiency perovskite solar cells are expected to serve as a key technology in the next-generation energy society.
Sungkyunkwan University has played a pivotal role from the early conceptual development to technological advancements in this field, and will continue to lead global research efforts.”
Meanwhile, Clarivate and Sungkyunkwan University plan to co-host a global webinar in June to highlight research trends in perovskite solar cells.