The development of cost-effective carrier-selective passivating contacts is critical for enhancing the commercial feasibility of silicon compound solar cells. Molybdenum oxide (MoO_X) has garnered considerable interest as a promising hole transport layer (HTLs). A key advantage of MoO_X is high work function, in addition to the low-cost processability. However, in silicon photovoltaics, MoO_X-based p-type contacts face fundamental limitations at hydrogenated amorphous silicon (i-a-Si:H)/MoO_X interface, where oxygen vacancy defects lower work function, as well as, weak van der Waals-dominated interactions impair charge carry transport. To address these challenges, we introduced an ultrathin phosphomolybdic acid (PMA) interlayer at the i-a-Si:H/MoO_X interface. PMA passivated oxygen vacancy defects, resulting in a notable improvement in open-circuit voltage from 713 to 730 mV, and 0.11 eV work function elevation via dipole formation; meanwhile, PMA strengthened the interfacial bonding energy, reducing saturation current density and contact resistance by 63% and 24%, respectively, contributing to a fill factor enhancement from 83.7% to 84.9%. In the end, we demonstrated a record efficiency of 24.9% for MoO_X-based silicon solar cells, which provides valuable insights for developing high-performance MoO_X HTL devices for dopant-free p-type contact technologies.

A new review traces more than 70 years of microecology research in China, from early ideas about microbial balance to today’s work in precision medicine, sustainable agriculture and environmental restoration. The authors argue that combining artificial intelligence, synthetic biology and international collaboration could help turn microbiome science into practical solutions for human, animal and environmental health.

A UK-led research collaboration has taken a significant step in the global effort to protect cereal crops from the devastating blast fungus pathogen.