Development of perovskite solar cells by incorporating quantum dots

• Attractive characteristics of quantum dots (QDs) are summarized. • Promising strategies for advancing PSCs with QDs are discussed. • An environment-friendly route contributed by QDs is reviewed. • Challenges and perspectives on future advancement of PSCs with QDs are proposed. Quantum dot (QD) materials can provide tremendous benefits resulting from quantum confinement effect to photovoltaic devices such as perovskite solar cells (PSCs). In this review, attractive characteristics of QDs are introduced from the point of view of nano-size effect, multiple-exciton generation, phase stability and hysteresis suppression. The role of QDs in improving device performance is elucidated on the basis of band engineering, tunable surface chemistry and compositional engineering. In addition, the contribution of QDs to environment-friendly devices is discussed. Finally, we discuss ongoing challenges and offer the perspectives on future advancement of PSCs with QDs.