Taking Control of Ion Transport in Halide Perovskite Solar Cells

Lead halide perovskites are mixed electron-ion conductors that support high rates of solid-state ion transport at room temperature, in addition to conventional electron and hole conduction. Mass transport mediated by charged defects is responsible for unusual phenomena such as current-voltage hysteresis in photovoltaic devices, anomalous above-bandgap photovoltages, light-induced lattice expansion and phase separation, self-healing, and rapid chemical conversion between halides. We outline the principles that govern ion transport in perovskite solar cells including intrinsic (point and extended defects) and extrinsic (light, heat, electrical fields, and chemical gradients) factors. These microscopic processes underpin a wide range of reported observations, including photoionic conductivity, and offer valuable directions for both limiting ion transport, where required, and harnessing it to enable new functionality.