Perovskite solar cells are thriving

The development of renewable energy technologies is unstoppable. Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are one such“rising star”with both strength and luck. Over the past decade, their certified power conversion efficiency has soared to 27.0%, which is a milestone that took crystalline silicon solar cells more than half a century to achieve. This rapid progress can be largely attributed to the unique advantages of perovskite materials, including their tunable composition and bandgap, abundant raw material sources, simple fabrication process, and low production cost. In addition, PSCs have the advantages of being lightweight and flexible and being able to be integrated with silicon-based solar cells, further broadening their application potential and positioning them as a strong contender for next-generation mainstream photovoltaic technologies. This article reviews the fundamental physical principles and development of PSCs. We describe the classification and composition of different devices in detail, summarize the strategies for optimization of their structures and materials, and discuss the current status of various types of PSCs. Finally, we present some personal perspectives on the future research and development of this field.