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1 * Corresponding author: arpitswarupmathur@gmail.com

Neha Patni*, Rokadia Zulfiqar and Krishna Patel

Chemical Engineering Department, Institute of Technology, Nirma University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India

Abstract

Perovskite solar cell (PSC) is a type of third-generation hybrid solar cell based on organic-inorganic metal halide material, having the molecular formula of the type ABX 3. High efficiency, flexibility, cell architecture, and low-cost production of the PSC have caught the attention of researchers and technologists in the field. There is a tremendous growth of efficiency in a short period, i.e., 3.8% in 2009 to nearly 25% in 2020. This chapter discusses the fundamental principle used in PSCs. Its structure, various layers of the cell, and their significance will be conferred. The chapter will also cover the working of the solar cell and discuss the various parameters on which the efficiency of the solar cell will depend. Fundamental properties of PSCs will be examined like high optical absorption, tunable bandgap, high open-circuit voltage, which is one of the most promising aspects of the perovskite technology that the cells can generate under full sun illumination with low loss‐ in‐potential. In the end, drawbacks of PSCs, like stability and toxicity, will be analyzed and its reasons will be examined in brief.

Keywords:Perovskite, solar cell, open-circuit voltage, power conversion efficiency

Our planet’s energy consumption has increased because of rapid industrialization and urbanization. To meet this energy requirement, the use of fossil fuels like coal, natural gas, and oil has increased tremendously. As a result, there is depletion in fossil fuel. Fossil fuels have advantages, like production of enormous energy, easy availability, cost effectiveness, easy transportation, but has several environmental issues. The use of fossil fuel is the main source of local air pollution, escalating carbon emissions, which leads to increase in the greenhouse gases, and their combustion makes the atmosphere more acidic. Moreover, fossil fuel is a nonrenewable source of energy which means in near future, these resources are going to vanish. As per the review of literature, from last six years the oil is left for around fifty years, natural gas for around fifty two years and coal for around one hundred ten years. The solution to this energy crisis is the renewable sources of energy like solar energy, hydrogen energy, wind energy, tidal energy, ocean thermal energy, biogas, biofuels, and geothermal energy.

The flow of research in renewable energy technology has increased tremendously. Out of all the sources of renewable sources of energy, solar energy is the most encouraging and applied approach. Solar energy comes with long-time warranty and low maintenance costs, environment friendly, and easy to adapt. Solar energy can lead us to sustainable development.

Photovoltaic cells are classified into first, second, and third generations as depicted in Figure 2.1. First-generation cells are silicon-based crystalline cells, which are commercially used. Si-based crystalline cells are widely applied cells because of their high stability and high efficiency (nearly 45%). Second-generation cells are thin film–based cells. Third-generation cells are new emerged technology-based cells. Perovskite is the third generation cell. An ideal solar cell should be highly efficient, stable, less costly, simple to fabricate, and environment friendly. None of the existing cells is ideal. Si-based cells have a high cost of production and complex fabrication process. Cadmium tellurium (CdTe) solar cell and copper indium gallium silicon (CIGS) solar cell are second-generation cells that have achieved high efficiency but have some disadvantages. Cadmium tellurium faces the problem of a low abundance of tellurium and toxicity of cadmium, whereas CIGS has the main problem of scarcity of indium in its industrial applications. These limitations lead to the emergence of the third-generation solar cells.