Chlorides, other Halides, and Pseudo-Halides as Additives for the Fabrication of Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are attracting a tremendous attention from the scientific community due to their excellent power conversion efficiency, low cost, and great promise for the future of solar energy. The best PSCs have already achieved a certified power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 25.5 % after an unprecedented rapid performance rise. However, high requirements with respect to large area, high-efficiency devices, and stability are still the challenges. Major efforts, especially for achieving a high degree of chemical control, have been made to reach these targets. The use of halide additives has played a critical role in improving the efficiency and stability. The present paper reviews the important breakthroughs in PSC technologies made by using halide additives, especially chloride, and pseudo-halide additives for the preparation of the perovskite layers, other layers, and interfaces of the devices. These additives help perovskite (PVK) crystallization and layer morphology control, grain boundary reduction, bulk and interface defects passivation, and so on. Normally, these halide additives play different roles depending on their categories and their location. Herein, recent progresses made due to additives employment in every possible layer of PSCs are reviewed, with focus on chloride, other halides, and pseudo-halides as additives in PVK films, halide additives in carrier transport layers, and at PVK-contact interfaces. Finally, an outlook of additive engineering in PSC progress is given.

Automated summary

Perovskite solar cells are being extensively researched due to their high efficiency, low cost, and potential for the future of solar energy. Challenges include large area, high-efficiency devices, and stability, which researchers are trying to address through the use of halide additives. These additives help improve efficiency and stability by controlling crystal growth, reducing defects, and passivating surfaces.