Perovskite/Si tandem solar cells: Fundamentals, advances, challenges, and novel applications

The world record device efficiency of single-junction solar cells based on organic-inorganic hybrid perovskites has reached 25.5%. Further improvement in device power conversion efficiency (PCE) can be achieved by either optimizing perovskite films or designing novel device structures such as perovskite/Si tandem solar cells. With the marriage of perovskite and Si solar cells, a tandem device configuration is able to achieve a PCE exceeding the Shockley-Queisser limit of single-junction solar cells by enhancing the usage of solar spectrum. After several years of development, the highest PCE of the perovskite/Si tandem cell has reached 29.5%, which is higher than that of perovskite- and Si-based single-junction cells. Here, in this review, we will (1) first discuss the device structure and fundamental working principle of both two-terminal (2T) and four-terminal (4T) perovskite/Si tandem solar cells; (2) second, provide a brief overview of the advances of perovskite/Si tandem solar cells regarding the development of interconnection layer, perovskite active layer, tandem device structure, and light management strategies; (3) third, discuss the challenges and opportunities for further developing perovskite/Si tandem solar cells. This review article, on the one hand, provides a comprehensive understanding to readers on the development of perovskite/Si tandems. On the other hand, it proposes various novel applications that may bring such tandems into the market in a near future.