Factors Limiting the Operational Stability of Tin-Lead Perovskite Solar Cells

Tin-lead perovskite solar cells (TLPSCs) have emerged as one of the most efficient photovoltaic technologies. However, their stability under operational conditions (ambient air, temperature, bias, and illumination) is lagging behind their sharp efficiency increase, restraining their further development. In this Focus Review, we provide insights into the degradation mechanisms of tin-lead perovskites and summarize the principal factors that currently limit the operational stability of TLPSCs. Specifically, perovskite composition and the device architecture stand out as critical aspects governing their sensitivity toward stressors such as temperature and light. We discuss several strategies to overcome these limitations and emphasize the adoption of standardized methods to quantify the lifetime of a device. We further propose using various characterization techniques to identify possible device failure mechanisms. We expect this Focus Review to assist in the progress toward the development of efficient and stable perovskite devices.