Metal halide perovskite: a game-changer for photovoltaics and solar devices via a tandem design
Date
2018-01-04
Authors
Shen, Heping
Duong, The
Wu, Yiliang
Peng, Jun
Jacobs, Daniel
Wu, Nandi
Weber, Klaus
White, Thomas
Catchpole, Kylie
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Taylor and Francis
Abstract
Multi-junction tandem design has been proven to be an effective means to further improve the efficiency of solar cells. However, its share in the photovoltaics market at present is tiny, since the most efficient tandem device comprises III-V semiconductors, which entail the use of expensive fabrication processes. The advent of perovskite solar cells, which have revitalized the PV field with their unprecedented pace of development, promises to address this bottleneck. Perovskite materials could not only serve as the top subcell absorber for commercial solar cells including Si and copper indium gallium selenide, but could work efficiently as bottom subcells owing to highly tuneable bandgaps which extend down to the range of ~1.2 to 1.5 eV. The highest-efficiency perovskite tandem to date was achieved by pairing a perovskite top cell with a Si bottom cell in a four-terminal configuration, yielding 26.4%. This review gives an overview of recent progress on the main tandem structures, and describes the detailed design improvements that have resulted in new record efficiencies. Ultimately, commercialization of these tandem solar cells relies on the scalability of perovskite technology. We, therefore, highlight the development of large-scale tandems and approaches to produce perovskite modules. We also point out the critical aspects that will require further effort and provide guidelines for future developments. The potential obstacles that will hamper the commercialization of perovskite tandems, if not adequately addressed, namely device stability and toxicity, are then critically examined. Finally, the substantial opportunities that perovskite materials open up for other solar devices with a tandem configuration are mentioned, which are attracting increasing attention.
Description
Keywords
Perovskite solar cells, Perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells, Photovoltaics
Citation
Collections
Source
Science and Technology of Advanced Materials
Type
Journal article
Book Title
Entity type
Access Statement
Open Access
License Rights
Creative Commons Attribution License
Restricted until
Downloads
File
Description