Perovskite-based low-cost and high-efficiency hybrid halide solar cells

A cost-effective and high-throughput material named perovskite has proven to be capable of converting 15.9% of the solar energy to electricity, compared to an efficiency of 3.8% that was obtained only four years ago. It has already outperformed most of the thin-film solar cell technologies that researchers have been studying for decades. Currently, the architecture of perovskite solar cells has been simplified from the traditional dye-sensitized solar cells to planar-heterojunction solar cells. Recently, the performance of perovskite in solar cells has attracted intensive attention and studies. Foreseeably, many transformative steps will be put forward over the coming few years. In this review, we summarize the recent exciting development in perovskite solar cells, and discuss the fundamental mechanisms of perovskite materials in solar cells and their structural evolution. In addition, future directions and prospects are proposed toward high-efficiency perovskite solar cells for practical applications. (C) 2014 Chinese Laser Press