Advanced modeling, performed by researchers at TU Delft, played a pivotal role in the deep understanding and engineering of the innovation. The new solar cell is made of the same material as 95% of all current solar cells but performs much better at 26.81% efficiency. The innovation further cements the crucial role of solar cells in the energy transition. The research results were published May 4 in Nature Energy. The report on this breakthrough is the result of a unique international collaboration between LONGi Green Energy Technology Co., Ltd,?"one of the global leading producers of solar cells of the highest quality?"together with Sun Yat-Sen University (SYSU) and Delft University of Technology (TU Delft). The team optimized the design of the solar cell by using a much improved "nanocrystalline-silicon hole contact layer." Such a new layer has been known as a theoretical possibility for quite some time, but it was never successfully put into practice.