Good news continues in solar photovoltaic technology. The research team led by Professor Meng Qingbo from the Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, has achieved a major breakthrough in a new solar cell material — Copper-Zinc-Tin-Sulfur-Selenium (CZTSSe). They successfully increased the photoelectric conversion efficiency to 16.6% and completed the development of high-performance flexible cells and modules.
This marks the 10th time the team has set a new record in this field. The relevant research results have been published in the top international academic journal Nature Energy, signifying a crucial step forward for China in next-generation photovoltaic materials.
Abundant Resources, Lower Cost: The Ideal Choice for Next-Generation Photovoltaics
As the name suggests, CZTSSe is composed of common elements abundantly available in the earth’s crust, such as copper, zinc, tin, sulfur, and selenium. Compared to the mainstream crystalline silicon materials currently in use, it offers several distinct advantages:
Because of these characteristics, CZTSSe is widely recognized by the global photovoltaic community as one of the most promising next-generation solar cell technologies.
A Decade of Refinement: Overcoming Atomic-Level Challenges
Despite its significant advantages, the industrialization of CZTSSe cells has long faced two core challenges:
To address these challenges, Professor Meng’s team dedicated over a decade of research. Starting from fundamental scientific issues such as material crystallization mechanisms and the regulation of atomic structure and defects, they gradually established a systematic control strategy. Through innovative approaches, the team successfully guided copper and zinc atoms into ordered positions, significantly reducing defect activity and effectively suppressing internal energy losses, thereby laying a solid scientific foundation for the efficiency breakthrough.
Crossing the Industrialization Threshold, Opening Diverse Application Scenarios
The core significance of this breakthrough lies in the fact that the technological maturity of CZTSSe cells has now crossed a key threshold for industrialization.
Researchers indicate that in the future, once the photoelectric conversion efficiency of this material approaches 20%, module efficiency reaches 18%, and large-scale production is achieved, it can be widely applied in several scenarios:
From repeated laboratory explorations to steady efficiency improvements, and now crossing the industrialization threshold, every breakthrough in China’s CZTSSe cells is inseparable from the long-term dedication and continuous innovation of the research teams. As this technology matures, a new era of photovoltaics — more efficient, lower-cost, and greener — is accelerating towards us.
From Lab to Industry: MULTIFIT Powers the Next Generation of Photovoltaic Technology
Each groundbreaking achievement reveals a clear path for CZTSSe cells to transition from “lab star” to “industrial cornerstone.” However, the true value of cutting-edge technology lies not only in the efficiency records continuously broken in laboratories but also in whether it can be transformed into stable, reliable, and commercially viable products at scale. This is precisely the focus and strength of MULTIFIT.
MULTIFIT is a national high-tech enterprise dedicated to the research, development, production, sales of green energy such as solar power, as well as photovoltaic power plant construction, operation, and maintenance services. The company is headquartered in Beijing, with a branch in Shenzhen, and its production base is located in the National High-tech Industrial Development Zone in Shantou, Guangdong.
Since its establishment, MULTIFIT has focused on transforming cutting-edge technologies into efficient and reliable photovoltaic products and system solutions. The company’s core products include solar cleaning robots, photovoltaic inverters, energy storage systems, MPPT controllers, and solar LED lighting systems. Its products are exported to over 50 countries and regions worldwide, and the company holds more than 50 patents and multiple international certifications, including ISO, CE, and FCC.
Facing the new generation of photovoltaic technologies represented by CZTSSe, MULTIFIT is well-prepared. Leveraging its profound experience in photovoltaic manufacturing, system integration, and intelligent operations & maintenance, the company will continue to promote the deep integration of high-efficiency cell technology with intelligent equipment, ensuring that every technological breakthrough makes a tangible impact and contributes solidly to the global green energy transition.
Post time: Apr-20-2026