Monolithic Perovskite/Silicon Tandems with >28% Efficiency: Role of Silicon-Surface Texture on Perovskite Properties

Textured silicon wafers used in silicon solar cell manufacturing offer superior light trapping, which is a critical enabler for high-performance photovoltaics. A similar optical benefit can be obtained in monolithic perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells, enhancing the current output of the silicon bottom cell. Yet, such complex silicon surfaces may affect the structural and optoelectronic properties of the overlying perovskite films. Here, through extensive characterization based on optical and microstructural spectroscopy, it is found that the main effect of such substrate morphology lies in an altering of the photoluminescence response of the perovskite, which is associated with thickness variations of the perovskite, rather than lattice strain or compositional changes. With this understanding, the design of high-performance perovskite/silicon tandems is rationalized, yielding certified power conversion efficiencies of >28%.

Automated summary

Textured silicon wafers and monolithic perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells both have superior light trapping capability, but the complex silicon surfaces may affect the structural and optoelectronic properties of the overlying perovskite films. Extensive characterization reveals that the main effect of the substrate morphology lies in altering the photoluminescence response of the perovskite, which is associated with thickness variations rather than lattice strain or composition changes. This understanding rationalizes the design of high-performance perovskite/silicon tandems, achieving certified power conversion efficiencies of >28%.