Metal Halide Perovskite Solar Cells Abstract

Within the last few years metal halide perovskites have risen to become a very promising PV material, captivating the research community. In the most efficient devices, which now exceed 22% solar to electrical power conversion efficiency, the perovskite is present as a solid absorber layer sandwiched between n and p-type charge collection contacts. Increasing importance of improving solar cell operation is reliant upon understanding and controlling thin-film crystallisation and controlling the nature of the p and n-type contacts. In addition, understanding and enhancing long term stability of the materials and devices if a key driver. Here I will present a brief overview of the perovskite field and the emergence of this technology. I will then present some of our recent work on developing thin film perovskite solar cells, and specifically highlight recent advances in understanding the thin film crystallisation and the mechanism driving hysteresis, which is often observed in the current voltage curves. I will further present our recent work on all inorganic perovskites, which may offer vastly enhanced stability at elevated temperatures, and on narrow band gap Sn based perovskites. Finally I will discuss the opportunity to combine perovskite with silicon in tandem junction solar cells, and the further challenges to overcome before this technology is ready for production.

Henry J. Snaith, 

University of Oxford