Organic–inorganic hybrid perovskite (PVSK) compounds are at the forefront of photovoltaic research, consistently surpassing silicon solar cells in power conversion efficiency. Possessing high refractive index, broad absorption spectrum, and superior quantum yields, hybrid PVSK thin films are theoretically also ideal candidates for luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs). In practice, however, the possibility of high self‐absorption in a continuous film, coupled with the inherent instability of PVSK materials, have hindered their use in this context. In this work, the viability of hybrid PVSK thin films as the active medium in planar LSCs is investigated. Using spectroscopic and photovoltaic measurements, variation of optical stability and device performance with different lead sources in the PVSK film precursors are monitored. The results display high optical efficiency in the range 15%–29% despite high self‐absorption losses, and the devices remain operational even after seven weeks in ambient conditions. Confirmed by Monte Carlo simulations, the superior performance is attributed to the high quantum yield and refractive index of the PVSKs. These results are encouraging not only for the implementation of PVSK thin films in LSCs, but additionally, for preparation of tandem devices to capture energy escaping as radiative exciton recombination in PVSK solar cells.

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In this review, we begin by discussing the need for harnessing renewable energy resources in the context of global energy demands. A summary of firstand second-generation solar cells, their efficiency and grid parity is provided, followed by the need to reduce material and installation costs, and achieve higher efficiencies beyond the Shockley-Queisser limit imposed on single junction cells. We also discuss the specific advantages offered by nanomaterials in enhanced energy harvesting, what design platforms comprise nanostructured photovoltaics, and list the prominent categories of nanomaterials used in the design of third generation solar cells. We review the significant nanostructured photovoltaic platforms that have encouraging power conversion efficiencies, have the potential for long term stability (both structural and functional) and have received attention in the field. In addition to their operational principle, we highlight both their advantages and shortcomings, along with insights into possible improvements. We include alternate routes to improving power conversion efficiency, not by tuning material properties to match the solar spectrum but using additives and/or structural modifications to allow more efficient harvesting of sunlight, either by reducing losses or by altering the spectral properties. The properties of nanomaterials that make them well-suited as active materials in photovoltaic devices (broadband absorption, high quantum yield, etc.) also make them ideal candidates for luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs). These devices also harvest solar energy, but instead of directly allowing charge generation, they act as downconverters for other photovoltaic cells. We review dye, thin film, and quantum dot based LSCs that have garnered a lot of attention in recent years as these devices face a resurgence given the advances in materials science and engineering which have led to novel quantum dots and hybrid semiconductors. The review ends with where the future of nanostructured photovoltaics is headed, what device designs and materials development are needed to achieve efficiencies beyond the Shockley-Queisser limits and fulfil the goal of the 3rd and 4th generation photovoltaics.

Organo‐metal halide perovskites (OMHPs) are currently one of the most exciting candidates for photovoltaics. However, their impact in other areas related to carrier photogeneration, such as in luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs), has been limited. OMHP thin films have demonstrated encouraging results as LSCs, but for a scalable platform with minimal losses, discrete emitters are preferable. Perovskite quantum dots (PQDs) possess higher photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) than their thin film counterparts, and have the added advantage of size tunability, which make them well‐suited as LSC active media. However, since PQDs are not amenable to Stokes shift modulation, large‐scale samples will suffer from increased self‐absorption (SA) losses. In this work, a facile dip‐coating approach is established to fabricating large‐scale LSCs with CH3NH3PbBr3 (methylammonium lead bromide) PQDs by leveraging their plasmonic interactions with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) to offset SA losses. Optical characterization through emission, lifetime, and spatially resolved photoluminescence measurements provide insight into the effect of plasmon resonance on deposited PQDs, and leveraging this AuNP‐PQD coupling, 2.87% efficiency is achieved in a 100 cm2 LSC with a geometric gain of 50.

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