Organometal halide perovskite thin films and solar cells by vapor deposition

Organometal halide perovskites (OHPs) are currently under the spotlight as promising materials for new generation low-cost, high-efficiency solar cell technology. Within a few years of intensive research, the solar energy-to-electricity power conversion efficiency (PCE) based on OHP materials has rapidly increased to a level that is on par with that of even the best crystalline silicon solar cells. However, there is plenty of room for further improvements. In particular, the development of protocols to make such a technology applicable to industry is of paramount importance. Vapor based methods show particular potential in fabricating uniform semitransparent perovskite films across large areas. In this article, we review the recent progress of OHP thin-film fabrication based on vapor based deposition techniques. We discuss the instrumentation and specific features of each vapor-based method as well as its corresponding device performance. In the outlook, we outline the vapor deposition related topics that warrant further investigation.