Hongjun New Energy, founded by veterans of SMIC, has successfully passed space-grade qualification for heterojunction (HJT) solar cells aboard a computing satellite, demonstrating an approach based on semiconductor technology to create next-generation photovoltaic elements.
In May 2026, Hongjun New Energy achieved confirmation of the quality of space-standard HJT solar cells on a computing satellite. The team is led by Jiang Qingtang, who holds a physics degree from Peking University and has worked at SMIC since 2001. This team consists of SMIC veterans who apply semiconductor precision to photovoltaic technologies. The founders, who worked together at SMIC for over two decades, began working in solar energy around 2007 before merging in Zhuhai.
The development of space solar cells required a significant technological shift. Hongjun's primary product was previously N-type heterojunction cells for terrestrial use; however, for space application, a P-type architecture with thinner wafers, adjusted film layers, optimized electrodes, and appropriate sealing was necessary to withstand the harsh conditions of the space environment. The first two test batches in early 2025 failed the tests, and the fourth batch was also unsuccessful. Each iteration consumed R&D resources and required production line downtime, directly impacting delivery schedules. Wang Haijun admitted that the team was severely discouraged after the fourth failure. Nevertheless, founder Jiang Qingtang insisted on continuing the research, and the fifth and sixth samples eventually passed validation, leading to successful deployment on the computing satellite.
Heterojunction technology, originally developed by the Japanese company Sanyo, is characterized by low-temperature processing and higher conversion efficiency compared to mainstream TOPCon cells. This technology offers high bifacial efficiency, a low temperature coefficient, and the potential for thin wafers, as well as better compatibility with perovskite tandem architectures for future cells. Hongjun consciously chose this more technically complex path instead of following the TOPCon mainstream, which attracted most of the capital and capacity during the photovoltaic industry expansion period from 2023 to 2025. Gaining a team with semiconductor experience gave them confidence in their ability to solve interface control and process reliability issues that limited the scaling of mass HJT production.
The terrestrial market remains the foundation for Hongjun, where traditional modules and distributed projects support the operation of production lines and customer qualifications. The company is targeting regions in the Middle East and Africa with high temperatures and radiation exposure for differentiated application markets where its technology advantages are most pronounced. The path of space photovoltaics represents a long-term, higher-value opportunity. Although short-term volumes will not match terrestrial production, the successful space qualification creates barriers: satellite operators and solar panel manufacturers will favor partners with proven space-grade qualifications, establishing a protected commercial position as the space computing economy grows. Hongjun is exploring BC, HBC, and perovskite tandem technologies. Senior Vice President Wang noted that the company aims to lead in technology, not in volume. The achievement in space solar cells confirms the viability of tackling the most complex challenges first to build stronger competitive advantages. As space computing develops, Hongjun possesses a pioneer advantage in qualification.
A team of researchers from Suzhou University, in collaboration with the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, has created a composite layer that does not contain indium. This material utilizes a molecular bridge between perovskite and silicon to enhance the efficiency and long-term stability of tandem solar cells.
Researchers from Suzhou University, led by Professors Yan Xinbo and Zhang Xiaohun, developed this composite layer in cooperation with the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and various partners from the photovoltaic industry. It forms a molecular bridge between the perovskite and crystalline silicon layers in tandem solar cells. This achievement resolves two serious problems facing perovskite and silicon-based tandem photodetectors: charge loss at the interface of the two materials and reduced long-term stability, which hindered the commercial implementation of such architectures.
The molecular bridge functions at the atomic level. The Suzhou team developed a self-assembling monolayer that chemically bonds to both the perovskite surface and the silicon surface. This creates a continuous electronic pathway for efficient charge transport while passivating defects and suppressing non-radiative recombination.
The elimination of indium is particularly significant. Indium tin oxide has traditionally been used as a transparent conductive layer in displays and photovoltaic devices. However, indium is classified as a critical material subject to concentration risks in the supply chain and rising costs due to demand from the display industry. The new composite layer completely excludes indium, replacing it with more accessible and less expensive materials that provide comparable or better optical transparency and electrical conductivity. This substitution removes both the cost barrier to the commercialization of tandem solar cells and the risk of material supply disruption that concerned the photovoltaic industry.
This research marks progress toward the industrialization of next-generation photovoltaic technologies. Theoretically, perovskite-silicon tandem cells can demonstrate efficiencies exceeding the Shockley-Queisser limit for single-junction silicon cells, which is around 29%. Laboratory tandem cells have already exceeded 33% efficiency, but translating these results into commercially viable products requires solving issues of interface stability and production scalability, which is the focus of the molecular bridge approach. The Suzhou team's work suggests that molecular engineering at the perovskite-silicon interface can simultaneously improve efficiency and operational lifespan, eliminating two of the most critical obstacles to commercialization. The model of university-industry collaboration accelerates the transition from laboratory development to manufacturing. With successful scaling, the molecular bridge technique could strengthen China's leadership in solar energy while reducing dependence on indium.
