A team of researchers from UNSW Sydney has unveiled a groundbreaking advancement that could redefine the future of solar energy. Their discovery involves an innovative organic layer capable of doubling solar power efficiency through a process known as singlet fission — a phenomenon where one photon of sunlight splits into two packets of usable energy.
For decades, silicon-based solar panels have dominated the renewable energy landscape due to their affordability and reliability. However, their efficiency has long faced a natural ceiling — topping out at about 29.4% theoretical efficiency. This limitation has driven scientists to search for alternative materials that can capture and convert more of the sun’s energy. The UNSW research team, dubbed Omega Silicon, believes they have found the key to breaking through this ceiling.
Singlet fission, as explained by Dr. Ben Carwithen from UNSW’s School of Chemistry, allows a single high-energy photon to produce two lower-energy excitations — essentially doubling the electrical output. “Much of the energy from sunlight in a solar cell is lost as heat,” Dr. Carwithen noted. “We’re finding ways to reclaim that wasted energy and turn it into additional electricity.”
The team’s breakthrough material, DPND (dipyrrolonaphthyridinedione), has proven to be both effective and stable under real-world conditions — a critical improvement over previous compounds like tetracene, which degraded quickly when exposed to air or moisture. “We’ve demonstrated that you can integrate silicon with this stable material to inject extra electrical charge,” Dr. Carwithen said. “It’s still an early step, but it’s the first proof that this system can work practically.”
According to Professor Ned Ekins-Daukes, head of UNSW’s School of Photovoltaic & Renewable Energy Engineering, this approach could elevate solar panel efficiency well beyond current limits. “By introducing singlet fission into a silicon solar cell, we can enable a molecular layer that provides additional current to the panel,” he explained.
The implications are enormous. The theoretical upper limit for solar panels using this technology is around 45% efficiency, a potential leap that could reshape global energy systems. Even achieving 30% commercial efficiency, as targeted by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) under its Ultra Low Cost Solar Program, would dramatically reduce costs and accelerate solar adoption worldwide.
The UNSW discovery builds on more than a decade of foundational research led by Professor Tim Schmidt, whose earlier work uncovered key mechanisms behind singlet fission using magnetic fields. That deep understanding of light–matter interaction has now culminated in this applied success. “Different colors of light carry different energies,” Prof. Schmidt said. “With singlet fission, that excess blue light energy that would usually turn into heat can now be converted into usable electricity.”
According to Associate Professor Murad Tayebjee, the project’s supervising author, the technology’s beauty lies in its simplicity. “It’s like painting a thin, organic layer on top of an existing solar cell,” he said. “There’s no need for a complete redesign — just smarter layering.”
In conclusion, this innovation marks a transformative step for renewable energy. By unlocking the ability to split sunlight into two streams of energy, UNSW scientists are not just improving efficiency — they’re rewriting the rules of solar technology. With industry partners and global energy leaders watching closely, this singlet fission breakthrough could soon illuminate the path to cheaper, cleaner, and more powerful solar energy worldwide.
