Perovskite Solar Cells: Concepts and Prospects

Hybrid organic–inorganic perovskites are materials that recently gained huge scientific attention for their superior characteristics. High optical absorption, ambipolar conductivity, high carrier mobility, bandgap tunability, and easy processing at low cost are properties that make this material unique. The hybrid nature of perovskite material containing both the properties of organic and inorganic ions makes it superior to other direct bandgap semiconductors in the field of photovoltaics. The chapter offers information on the structural, optical, and electrical properties of organic–inorganic halide perovskite materials. It introduces other varieties of perovskites that are obtainable by incorporating different mixtures of cations and anions. The evolution of perovskite-based solar cells is explained in detail, including their fabrication process and working principles. Perovskite-based solar cell efficiency has rapidly progressed from 3.81% in 2009 to the current status where single-junction perovskite solar cell efficiency reached 25.2%. The chapter illustrates advanced perovskite solar cell structures like back contact cells and various tandem cells based on perovskites. It also discusses qualitatively different methods to fabricate large-area perovskite solar cells. Commercializing perovskite-based solar cells faces challenges such as their instability in ambient conditions and the toxicity of lead. Researches are in progress to tackle these drawbacks and those attempts are also presented. The chapter concludes with a discussion on the current status of perovskite-based solar cells.