The King of the New Generation Photovoltaic Technologies——Perovskite Solar Cells & the Opportunities and Challenges

Abstract

Within the past several decades, photovoltaic technology is an emerging pioneer in the renewable energy field. Driven by the rapid decline in the price of photovoltaic products, the cost of photovoltaic power generation is becoming cheaper or even lower than the cost of thermal power generation. Among various photovoltaic technologies, organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite thin film solar cells are promising candidates for the next generation of solar cells in consideration of their outstanding advantages such as low-cost, easy manufacturing processing and high power conversion efficiencies. Perovskite solar cells stem from dye-sensitized solar cells. Within less than a decade of rigorous research and development in perovskite solar cells, the efficiency is boosted up to 25.2%. Aforementioned high PCE is mainly attributed to outstanding photovoltaic properties such as the long diffusion length of carriers, high optical absorption coefficient, excellent carrier mobility, etc. Meanwhile, the main barriers of commercialization for the perovskite solar cells are the poor stability of the devices, and the possible environmental pollution caused by lead. Herein, we briefly reviewed the opportunities and the challenges of this game changer in photovoltaic field. The development prospective are also discussed.