Perovskite Quantum Dots. A New Absorber for Perovskite-Perovskite Tandem Solar Cells

The nanoscale properties of CsPbI ₃ quantum dots allows for the advantageous manipulation of its phase diagram. We show that these all-inorganic halide perovskite nanocrystals can be used to fabricate colloidal perovskite quantum dot solar cells with low voltage losses. Despite only recently emerging on the photovoltaic scene, CsPbI ₃ quantum dot solar cells have already achieved approximately 85% of their Shockley-Quessier limit open-circuit voltage, among the lowest voltage loss achieved for any material with a band gap of 1.7 eV, excepting III-V semiconductors. The low losses in these devices recently led to a world record certified quantum dot solar cell efficiency of 13.4%. While single junction thin film perovskite solar cells have surpassed 22% power conversion efficiency, perovskite-perovskite tandem solar cells offer the potential for power conversion efficiencies exceeding 30%. However, to accomplish this ambitious goal, perovskite solar cells must be designed with low losses and the appropriate band gaps, which differ from the ideal band gap for single junction perovskite solar cells. In this respect, the incredibly low voltage loss and tunable band gap of CsPbI ₃ quantum dots make them ideally suited for all-perovskite tandem solar cell applications.