Semitransparent Perovskite Solar Cell Technologies
Summary
Semitransparent perovskite solar cells (ST-PSCs) harness the exceptional optoelectronic properties of metal–halide perovskites to generate electricity while permitting controlled transmission of visible light. By tailoring absorber thickness, bandgap composition and device architecture, these cells achieve an adjustable balance between light harvesting and transparency. Common strategies include ultrathin active layers, micro-patterned absorbers, island‐type films and engineered transparent electrodes incorporating dielectric–metal–dielectric stacks or conducting polymers. Key challenges lie in mitigating the trade-off between average visible transmittance (AVT) and power conversion efficiency (PCE), ensuring long-term stability under illumination and developing large-area, lead‐reduced formulations. Semitransparent designs unlock a range of practical applications—from building‐integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) façades and smart windows to agrivoltaic systems and wearable electronics—facilitating energy generation in otherwise underutilised surfaces. Recent advances in electrode optical management, co‐evaporation deposition and tandem integration have narrowed the performance gap with opaque devices, while emerging photovoltachromic and plasmonic approaches promise dynamic control of light and heat transmission in next-generation energy‐smart environments.
Research from Nature Portfolio
Recent studies have explored the integration of semitransparent perovskite photovoltaics into multifunctional systems. One investigation has mapped the pathway to next-generation applications by embedding perovskite cells in tandem architectures, building-integrated photovoltaic assemblies and energy-storage hybrids, emphasising solution processing, modular design and interface engineering to enhance stability and scalability. In a foundational report, a tandem photovoltachromic device combined a transparent perovskite subcell with an ion-gel electrochromic layer, achieving full-frame active areas with up to 76 % pristine transmittance, rapid self-adjusting contrast and excellent colour rendition, demonstrating the promise of self-adapting, energy-generating smart windows.
Semitransparent Perovskite Solar Cell Technologies publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in semitransparent perovskite solar cell technologies across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Perovskite: A crystalline material with the general formula ABX₃, notable for tunable bandgaps and high defect tolerance in solar cells.
Average Visible Transmittance (AVT): The mean fraction of visible light transmitted through a semitransparent device, expressed as a percentage.
Power Conversion Efficiency (PCE): The ratio of electrical power output to incident solar power under standard test conditions.
Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV): Solar technologies incorporated into building elements such as façades and windows.
Tandem Solar Cell: A multi-junction device stacking absorbers with complementary bandgaps to surpass single-junction efficiency limits.
References
- Translucent perovskite photovoltaics for building integration. Energy & Environmental Science (2023).
- A Rational Approach to Improve the Overall Performances of Semitransparent Perovskite Solar Cells by Electrode Optical Management. ACS Energy Letters (2024).
- Semitransparent Perovskite Solar Cells with an Evaporated Ultra‐Thin Perovskite Absorber. Advanced Functional Materials (2023).
- Next-generation applications for integrated perovskite solar cells. Communications Materials (2023).
- Full-frame and high-contrast smart windows from halide-exchanged perovskites. Nature Communications (2021).
- Recent advances in semitransparent perovskite solar cells. InfoMat (2020).
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