Defects in perovskite-halides and their effects in solar cells

Solar cells based on perovskite-halide light absorbers have a unique set of characteristics that could help alleviate the global dependence on fossil fuels for energy generation. They efficiently convert sunlight into electricity using Earth-abundant raw materials processed from solution at low temperature. Thus, they offer potential for cost reductions compared with or in combination with other photovoltaic technologies. Nevertheless, to fully exploit the potential of perovskite-halides, several important challenges must be overcome. Given the nature of the materials — relatively soft ionic solids — one of these challenges is the understanding and control of their defect structures. Currently, such understanding is limited, restricting the power conversion efficiencies of these solar cells from reaching their thermodynamic limit. This Review describes the state of the art in the understanding of the origin and nature of defects in perovskite-halides and their impact on carrier recombination, charge-transport, band alignment, and electrical instability, and provides a perspective on how to make further progress. Understanding of defect physics in perovskite-halide semiconductors is essential to control the effects of structural and chemical defects on the performance of perovskite solar cells. Petrozza and Ball review the current knowledge of defects in these materials.