What are perovskite solar cells?
They represent the most exciting approach to build solar cells that are inexpensive and highly efficient. A perovskite solar cell is one that includes a perovskite-structured compound, most commonly a hybrid organic-inorganic lead or tin halide-based material, as the light-harvesting active layer. The terms “perovskite” and “perovskite structure” are often used interchangeably. Technically, a perovskite is a type of mineral that was first found in the Ural Mountains and named after Lev Perovski who was the founder of the Russian Geographical Society. A perovskite structure is any compound that has the same structure as the perovskite mineral. A perovskite is a material that has the same crystal structure as the mineral calcium titanium oxide, also known as Perovskite. Generally, perovskite compounds have a chemical formula ABX3, where ‘A’ and ‘B’ represent cations and X is an anion that bonds to both. Because of their unique crystal make-up, perovskites often display a number of interesting properties, including superconductivity, giant magnetoresistance, and ferroelectricity. It has only been recently that their applications to clean energy have drawn scientific attention. Within the last several years, perovskite solar cells have outpaced all other third-generation solar technologies in terms of efficiency.
