Pseudo-Halide Perovskite Solar Cells

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have achieved certified power conversion efficiency (PCE) over 25%. Though their high PCE can be achieved by optimizing absorber layer and device interfaces, the intrinsic instability of perovskite materials is still a key issue to be resolved. Mixed-halide perovskites using multiple halogen constituents have been proved to improve robustness; however, the anion at the X site in the ABX(3) formula is not limited to halogens. Other negative monovalent ions with similar properties to halogens, such as pseudo-halogens, have the opportunity to form perovskites with ABX(3) stoichiometry. Recently, thiocyanates and formates have been utilized to synthesize stable perovskite materials. This review presents the evolution of pseudo-halide perovskite solar cells in the past few years. The intrinsic properties, their effects on crystal structure, and bandgap engineering of the pseudo-halide perovskites are summarized. Various thiocyanate compounds applied in the fabrication of perovskite solar cells are discussed. The fabrication process, film formation mechanism, and crystallinity of pseudo-halide perovskites are elucidated to understand their effects on the photovoltaic performance and device stability. Other applications of pseudo-halide perovskites are summarized in the final section. Lastly, this review concludes with suggestions and outlooks for further research directions.

Automated summary

Perovskite solar cells have achieved high power conversion efficiency, but the intrinsic instability of perovskite materials remains a key issue. Studies have shown that mixed-halide perovskites and other negative monovalent ions can improve stability. This review presents the evolution and applications of pseudo-halide perovskite solar cells.