Perovskite solar cells: importance, challenges, and plasmonic enhancement

ABSTRACT

Solar cells have ruled the photovoltaic industry for decades and has paved for various research pathways of new materials such as perovskites. Inorganic-organic hybrid perovskite-based solar cells have received tremendous attention over last few years. The perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are preferred over other solar cells due to their cost effectiveness and high power conversion efficiency, however their commercialization is still limited due to their instability and lead toxicity. Power conversion efficiency (PCE) of PSCs have increased tremendously as new techniques and ways are divulged for photovoltaic (PV) enhancement. In this way, plasmonic nanostructures are reported as efficient candidates while doped or embedded in the active layer of these cells. Exhibiting the surface plasmon resonance, these metallic nanostructures improve absorption spectra, light scattering in the active layer as well as the electronic properties by reducing the binding excitation energy. Furthermore, the size and shape of metallic nanostructures can have a significant effect on PCE due to tunable surface chemistry and resonance wavelength. This paper reviews the importance of PSCs in this growing energy demand era and the improvements in the performance by plasmonic nanostructures.

KEYWORDS:

• Perovskites
• solar cells
• nanoparticles
• nanorods
• plasmonics