ABX3 Perovskites for Tandem Solar Cells

Abstract

Perovskite solar cells carry the banner for emerging photovoltaics since they have demonstrated power conversion efficiency values well above 20%, which were traditionally only accessible for fairly established technologies such as silicon. Indeed, ABX 3 perovskite materials have revolutionized solar cells due to their ease of processing and outstanding electronic and optical properties, which make them ideal candidates for the development of multi-junction devices aiming to surpass limits associated to stand-alone technologies. In this review we discuss the latest regarding this matter. First, we introduce standard materials and processing techniques involved in the preparation of state-of-the-art perovskite solar cells. We then discuss the development of perovskite-based tandem devices in which ABX 3 perovskite acts as the active material in the top subcell and Si, CIGS, polymer, or ABX 3 act as bottom subcells. Finally, we provide the reader with a discussion on the different lines of research that this rapidly developing field may follow.

Optical characterization and bandgap engineering of flat and wrinkle-textured FA0.83Cs0.17Pb(I1–xBrx)3 perovskite thin films

“…Organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite materials are currently one of the most promising materials for next generation solar cells [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] and other optoelectronic devices, 3,4 owing to their high cell efficiencies, high absorption, direct bandgap, long carrier diffusion length, bandgap tunability and low manufacturing costs. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]10 The use of cesium mixed-cation lead mixed-halide perovskites (FA 1 − y Cs y Pb(I 1 − x Br x ) 3 ) has also significantly improved upon the stability issues of classical PV perovskites like MAPbI 3 .…”

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]10 The use of cesium mixed-cation lead mixed-halide perovskites (FA 1 − y Cs y Pb(I 1 − x Br x ) 3 ) has also significantly improved upon the stability issues of classical PV perovskites like MAPbI 3 . 1,7,10 As such they hold great potential for single junction cells and especially for dual junction Si-perovskite tandem cells.…”

“…Si solar cells are already approaching the 29% Shockley-Queisser efficiency limit (with the current record at 26.6% 11 ), and adding an extra perovskite top cell can potentially increase efficiencies beyond 30% if tuned to the optimal 1.75 eV bandgap. [1][2][3]12 Therefore, accurate knowledge of the relation of the complex refractive indexñ, optical bandgap and Urbach energy, to perovskite composition is of great importance. To date, most relevant studies on cesium mixed-cation lead mixed-halide perovskites estimate the bandgap from photoluminescence (PL) measurements.…”

Efficient Semitransparent Perovskite Solar Cells Using a Transparent Silver Electrode and Four-Terminal Perovskite/Silicon Tandem Device Exploration

“…Simultaneously, the Si solar cells have dominated the photovoltaic markets for a long time, and the PCE record of the single-junction Si solar cell has reached 26.6% [8], but the relatively high manufactur-ing cost limits their wider applications. In recent years, the perovskite/Si tandem solar cells [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24] have attracted increasing interest as they possess great commercial possibility in fabricating high-performance solar cells via the cost-effective pathway.…”

“…For the four-terminal perovskite/ Si devices assembled by a perovskite top cell and Si bottom cell, many efforts were dedicated to search for an appropriate transparent electrode to replace the opaque metal rear contact normally used in PSCs. In most reports [17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26], the sputtered transparent-conductive-oxide (especially ITO) rear electrode has been commonly used, and the record overall efficiency of 26.4% has been achieved in the four-terminal devices with the perovskite top cell using the ITO/Au-finger electrode [18]. However, the sputtered ITO without postannealing (>200°C) treatment usually shows the suboptimal conductivity, and the high kinetic energy of sputtered particles tends to damage the underlying spiro-OMeTAD or fullerene layers [19]; thus, it is essential to increase the thickness (or add the finger electrodes) to compensate the resistive loss and deposit the buffer layer to protect the organic charge transport layers [18,20].…”