How to Make a Perovskite Tandem Solar Cell Interface Figure

The visual demands of tandem solar cell research papers

Perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells are multilayer devices. A single figure needs to communicate the layer stack, light absorption profiles, carrier generation, interface defects, passivation chemistry, and energy band alignment. Traditional diagramming tools force you to draw each layer manually, align them pixel by pixel, and then realize the proportions are wrong when you add labels.

The result is usually either an oversimplified cartoon that communicates nothing specific about your device or an unreadable mess of overlapping arrows and labels that obscures the mechanism you are trying to explain.

The prompt

A photovoltaic researcher described their figure need:

The result

PaperFig generated a landscape-zoned layout in a Nature Energy–inspired style:

• Device stack — Each layer from glass substrate through electrodes is drawn with correct relative positioning: perovskite absorber, passivation interface, silicon bottom cell, and contact layers.
• Carrier transport — Electron and hole pathways are shown with directional arrows through the device, making the charge extraction mechanism immediately visible.
• Defect suppression — The passivation interface is highlighted with annotations showing how it reduces trap states and non-radiative recombination.
• Enhanced performance — Output metrics (efficiency, stability) are visually linked to the passivation mechanism.

Why this matters for energy-device papers

Tandem solar cell reviewers evaluate figures by checking whether the layer stack is physically plausible, the carrier flow directions are correct, and the claimed improvement mechanism is visually connected to the device structure. PaperFig enforces this structure automatically because the prompt describes the physics, not just the visual arrangement.

The same layered, mechanism-first approach extends to other materials-science and energy figures — photocatalytic CO2 reduction, zinc-air batteries, and MXene hydrogel biosensors all benefit from explicit layer ordering, carrier-transport arrows, and a performance panel tied to the device structure.

Tips for solar cell and energy-device figures

1. Name the layers in order. "Glass substrate, perovskite absorber, passivation layer, silicon cell, back contact" gives PaperFig the correct stacking sequence.
2. State the key mechanism. "Reduces defects and improves charge extraction" focuses the figure on your scientific contribution rather than generic device structure.
3. Mention both carriers. "Electron and hole transport" ensures the figure shows the complete charge-flow picture.
4. Request an energy-journal style. Terms like "Nature Energy" or "Advanced Energy Materials" steer the visual tone toward the clean, layered diagrams these journals publish.
5. Include performance context. Mentioning the target efficiency or the improvement percentage gives PaperFig a reason to include a performance panel or metric annotation. A device figure without performance context looks like a textbook illustration rather than a figure supporting a specific experimental result.

Prompt breakdown: why this description works

The prompt above contains four elements that make it effective for energy device figures. Understanding these elements helps you write better prompts for any layered device mechanism figure.

Layer stack specification

"Perovskite silicon tandem solar cells" tells PaperFig this is a multi-layer device with at least two absorber materials. The term "tandem" implies a stacked architecture where light passes through the top cell (perovskite) to reach the bottom cell (silicon). This geometric information determines the vertical layout of the figure.

Key mechanism identification

"Interface passivation layer that reduces defects" focuses the figure on the paper's scientific contribution. Without this, PaperFig would draw a generic tandem device. With it, the passivation interface gets visual emphasis and annotation, making the figure about your discovery rather than general device physics.

Dual process description

"Improves charge extraction and raises device stability" names two consequences of the passivation. This is important because it tells PaperFig to show two visual outcomes: better carrier transport (arrows flowing more efficiently) and improved stability (indicated by performance metrics or device lifetime).

Explicit visual requests

"Draw the layered device, light absorption, electron hole transport, and defect suppression" names four visual elements that must appear. Each becomes a distinct visual zone or annotation in the figure. Listing them explicitly prevents PaperFig from guessing which aspects of the device to emphasize.

Adapting this prompt for other photovoltaic architectures

The four-element structure works for any solar cell paper:

Organic solar cell with interlayer: "My device is a bulk heterojunction organic solar cell with a novel cathode interlayer. The interlayer modifies the electrode work function, improves electron extraction selectivity, and blocks hole recombination. Show the device layer stack, energy level alignment, selective charge transport, and J-V performance improvement."

Quantum dot solar cell: "I study PbS quantum dot solar cells with ligand-exchanged transport layers. The short-chain ligands improve inter-dot coupling, enhance carrier mobility, and reduce trap-state density. Show the QD film structure, ligand arrangement, band alignment, and carrier transport pathways."

All-perovskite tandem: "My device is a monolithic all-perovskite tandem with wide-bandgap and narrow-bandgap absorbers. The interconnection layer provides ohmic contact and optical transparency. Show both absorber layers, the interconnection layer, current matching, and the combined absorption spectrum."

Each adaptation names the device architecture, the key innovation, the mechanism by which it improves performance, and the visual elements needed.

Label conventions for solar cell and photovoltaic figures

Layer stack labels

• Label each layer from bottom to top matching your device fabrication order
• Include thickness values (in nm) for key layers if your paper reports them
• Use standard abbreviations: "ETL" (electron transport layer), "HTL" (hole transport layer), "TCO" (transparent conducting oxide)
• Distinguish "absorber" from "transport" from "contact" layers visually

Energy diagram labels

• Use eV values with consistent decimal precision
• Label CB (conduction band) and VB (valence band) edges clearly
• Show Fermi level position if relevant to your mechanism
• Use upward-pointing energy axis (higher energy at top)
• Mark the band gap value for each absorber

Performance metrics

• "PCE" for power conversion efficiency (with percentage value)
• "Jsc," "Voc," "FF" for short-circuit current, open-circuit voltage, fill factor
• Use subscript formatting consistently: Jsc not JSC or jsc

Common mistakes in solar cell figures

Incorrect layer ordering

The physical layer order matters. Glass substrate at the bottom, transparent electrode above it, then transport layers, absorber, and back contact. If your figure shows layers in a different order than your actual device, the figure is scientifically incorrect regardless of how polished it looks.

Missing light direction

Solar cell figures must show where light enters the device. An arrow indicating incident light with the solar spectrum or photon energy is essential. Without it, the figure does not communicate the energy source that drives the entire device.

Oversimplified interface representation

Drawing the perovskite-silicon interface as a simple line misses the point of tandem research. The interface may include interlayers, tunneling junctions, or recombination layers. If your paper studies the interface, show its structural complexity.

No current path indication

Charge carriers must have a clear path from generation (in the absorber) through transport layers to the electrodes. Many figures show carrier generation without showing the complete extraction pathway. Trace the electron and hole paths from start to finish.

Ignoring optical management

Tandem devices rely on spectral splitting — the top cell absorbs high-energy photons while transmitting lower-energy photons to the bottom cell. If light management is part of your paper (anti-reflection coating, textured interfaces, intermediate reflector), show the optical path alongside the electrical path. A figure that shows only charge transport without acknowledging light management misses half of the tandem device physics.

Mixing simulated and experimental data in one figure

If your figure includes both simulated band diagrams and experimental device performance, clearly label which parts are computed and which are measured. Using the same visual style for both creates ambiguity about the evidence basis for your claims. Solid lines for experimental data and dashed lines for simulated values is a common convention.

FAQ

How do I show both tandem sub-cells in one figure?

Use a vertical layout that matches the physical device stack. The top cell (wide bandgap, typically perovskite) sits above the bottom cell (narrow bandgap, typically silicon). Show light entering from the top, with the solar spectrum divided between the two absorbers.

Should I include the band diagram alongside the device structure?

Yes, if band alignment is central to your paper. Place the device structure in Panel A and the corresponding energy band diagram in Panel B, with visual connections between the layers and their energy levels.

What journal style works best for perovskite papers?

Nature Energy and Joule use clean layered diagrams with performance metrics. Advanced Energy Materials prefers more detailed mechanistic illustrations. ACS Energy Letters favors compact figures suitable for the letter format.

How do I represent stability data in a mechanism figure?

If stability is part of your contribution, include a stability panel showing the degradation pathway your innovation prevents. This could be an arrow from the passivation layer to a blocked degradation process, or a comparative panel showing device performance over time.

Try it yourself

Describe your device stack, the key interface mechanism, and the performance improvement — PaperFig generates the rest, keeping every layer, interface, and carrier path consistent with the measured device performance.

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