Perovskite Solar Cell: Explore Cell Manufacturing Process, Working, Pros, Cons, and Applications

Perovskites are a large family of materials named after the mineral perovskite, which is composed of calcium titanate and was first discovered in 1839. The crystal pattern helps certain perovskites to absorb sunlight really well. The perovskite solar cells, manufactured using light-soaking perovskites, are, therefore, one of the most advanced PV cells.

• Lab efficiency of perovskite-on-silicon tandem cells: ~34% 
• Lab efficiency of pure single-layer (single-junction) perovskite solar cells: ~26% 

The modern perovskite photovoltaic cells use organic-inorganic materials that can absorb different wavelengths of sunlight. While their efficiency under standard test conditions in controlled lab environments is much higher than that of different types of silicon PV panels, perovskite solar cells last for just 1-2.5 years. Hence, they’re not yet used to manufacture perovskite solar panels on a commercial scale. 

In this blog, we will explain a brief history of the perovskite material, the working, construction, and manufacturing process of perovskite solar cells, and their major advantages and disadvantages. We will also explain whether you should wait for perovskite solar panels to install on-grid rooftop solar panel systems for homes or opt for existing high-efficiency solar panels.

TL;DR Summary Box: What is Perovskite Material?

Perovskite is a specific type of crystal structure named after a Russian mineralogist, Lev Perovski. In the perovskite structure, atoms are arranged in a specific geometric pattern. This arrangement creates a cubic crystal lattice with the general chemical formula ABX₃. 

• A and B represent different types of metal atoms.
• X represents an anion, which is mostly oxygen or halide ions. 

Here are the main topics we’ve covered in this blog in detail:

Main Topics	Key Takeaways
What are perovskite solar cells?	They’re solar cells made from perovskite-structured semiconductors. These materials absorb light very strongly. As a result, the efficiency of these solar cells is very high.
Are perovskite solar panels available in India commercially?	No, they’re not available to consumers yet.
How are perovskite solar cells made?	Manufacturers build thin layers on glass or plastic: a clear front contact, charge-transport layers, the perovskite light absorber, and a back metal contact. Finally, the cell is sealed and tested.
What is the main advantage of a perovskite solar cell?	It can capture different wavelengths of sunlight, which increases the overall efficiency of the solar cell. Simply put, it can convert more sunlight into electricity.
What is the main disadvantage of a perovskite solar cell?	It is not built to withstand harsh outdoor weather conditions. The cell lasts for just 1-2.5 years in outdoor conditions.
Should you wait for perovskite solar panels to install a rooftop solar system in India?	The current electricity tariffs increase by 3-6% annually in India. And perovskite is still decades away from becoming stable enough to withstand outdoor weather. If you install the best bifacial solar modules available today, you can reduce your electricity bills by at least 90% and save tens of lakhs of rupees.

Why is it called Perovskite?

The name perovskite dates back to 1839. A German mineralogist, Gustav Rose, discovered a natural mineral, calcium titanium oxide mineral (CaTiO₃). He named it perovskite in honor of Count Lev Alekseevich Perovski, a Russian mineralogist. 

Later on, when scientists discovered that many other compounds could adopt the same crystal arrangement as the original perovskite, they began referring to all materials with this specific atomic structure as perovskite-type or simply perovskite.

What is Persovskite Mainly Used for?

Besides the fact that researchers use perovskite for LEDs, photodetectors, and lasers, the material is mainly used to manufacture solar cells. Perovskites absorb sunlight across a broad spectrum of wavelengths while maintaining excellent electrical conductivity. As a result, perovskite solar cells have reached very high efficiencies in lab settings. 

The main problem with perovskites, however, is their short life of 1 to 2.5 years under harsh outdoor weather conditions. However, because their efficiencies can be very high, scientists and researchers are trying to find ways to improve the lifespan of these PV cells.

What Are Perovskite Solar Cells and How Do They Work?

Perovskite solar cells are advanced third-generation PV cells that utilize a specific crystal structure called perovskite to convert different wavelengths of sunlight into electricity. Because they absorb sunlight of different wavelengths, they’re able to convert more solar energy into electricity than a conventional silicon solar cell can.  

Under lab settings, the highest recorded efficiency of perovskite-on-silicon tandem cells is ~34%. The short lifespan of these solar cells (just 1-2.5 years) is the main hurdle to them becoming mainstream solutions for rooftop solar systems for housing societies, homes, and commercial complexes. 

The structure of a perovskite solar cell consists of multiple specialized layers, listed below, that are designed to maximize light absorption. 

• Transparent conducting oxide (TCO): This layer allows light entry while collecting electrical current.
• Electron transport layer (ETL): This lets the electrons move toward the negative electrode.
• Perovskite absorber layer: This is the primary light-harvesting material that generates electron-hole pairs.
• Hole transport layer (HTL): This layer conducts holes, which are the positive charges, toward the positive electrode.
• Metal back contact: It completes the electrical circuit and collects the current which is generated.

How Do Perovskite Solar Cells Work?

Perovskite solar cells absorb photons present in sunlight. Photons excite electrons, causing them to leave their place once they receive the energy from protons. This results in the formation of electron-hole pairs. Electrons flow in one direction, which results in the formation of DC power.

Let’s check out how they work step-by-step:

• Step 1 – The perovskite layer in the solar cells absorbs photons: Sunlight falls on the perovskite layer. Photons present in the sunlight are absorbed by this layer. 
• Step 2 – Photon absorption results in the formation of an electron-hole pair: Absorbed photons transfer their energy to electrons, exciting them. The excited electrons leave their place, leaving behind a positively charged hole. Every photon absorbed creates an electron-hole pair. 
• Step 3 – The charges created are separated: There’s a built-in electric field in the perovskite solar cells that separates electrons and holes as soon as the charge pair is formed. This ensures charges don’t immediately recombine, resulting in the formation of usable current. The electric field pushes electrons and holes in opposite directions. 
• Step 4 – Electrons are transported to the conducting electrode: Electrons move through the ETL toward the transparent conducting electrode.
• Step 5 – Holes are transported toward the metal back contact: The positive holes move through the HTL toward the metal back contact.
• Step 6 – The current generated is collected: Separated charges are collected at their respective electrodes, generating an electrical current. Electrons flow through external wiring to power electrical devices before returning to complete the circuit.

Are Perovskite Solar Panels Available in India?

Although they sound promising in theory, perovskite solar cells are far from being commercially used to generate solar panels for commercial rooftop systems and those for homes and housing societies. Perovskite solar panels are not available in India or elsewhere in the world for widespread customer use because of the following factors: 

• Poor performance in the real world: India experiences extreme weather conditions, including intense humidity during the monsoon, heat waves in the summer, and extreme cold and snow in the winter. Perovskite solar cells, however, are not durable enough to survive such extremities. In fact, a recent study proved that perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells could last for just a little over one year in extreme weather conditions in Saudi Arabia. 
• Durability crisis: No manufacturer globally can guarantee the 20-25 year lifespan required for commercial solar projects. The current favorite solar panels, bifacial modules with mono-PERC half-cut cells, offer a lifespan of 25+ years. Perovskite, in comparison, can last for no more than 2.5 years outside labs. 
• Manufacturing scale challenges: Current production of perovskite solar cells is limited to small laboratory samples. There are no facilities anywhere in the world for commercial-scale manufacturing of consumer-ready perovskite solar panels yet.

How Are Perovskite Solar Cells Constructed?

Unlike traditional silicon solar panels that require high-temperature processing and expensive equipment, perovskite solar production can be completed using simple and low-cost methods at room temperature. 

The manufacturing of perovskite solar cells begins with substrate preparation and progresses through multiple coating and treatment steps. Let’s check out all the steps one by one: 

• Step 1 – Substrate is prepared: Manufacturers clean the glass or plastic substrate using plasma treatment to remove contaminants like dust and oils. 
• Step 2 – Transparent conducting oxide (TCO) layer is deposited: A thin layer of indium tin oxide (ITO) is applied using magnetron sputtering. This transparent layer lets sunlight in and carries current across the surface. 
• Step 3 – Electron transport layer (ETL) is formed: The titanium dioxide layer is deposited using spin coating. This layer guides electrons toward the front contact and blocks the opposite charge. 
• Step 4 – The perovskite absorber layer is deposited: Active perovskite material is applied by dissolving organic and inorganic precursors in solvents. This is the most critical step that determines how efficient the solar cell will be.
• Step 5 – The hole transport layer (HTL) is applied: An organic material doped with additives is applied to enhance conductivity. This layer moves the positive charges toward the back contact and prevents electrons from flowing in the wrong direction. 
• Step 6 – The metal back contact is deposited: A thin metal layer is evaporated under high vacuum conditions to form the back electrode. 
• Step 7 – The cell is encapsulated and tested: The cell is sealed with a protective glass layer in order to keep moisture and oxygen out. Then, manufacturers test the voltage, current, and efficiency of the cell.

What Are the Main Advantages of Perovskite Solar Cells?

Perovskite solar cells can capture different wavelengths of sunlight. It increases their efficiency when compared to traditional silicon solar panels. Furthermore, their manufacturing cost can be cheaper than that of silicon solar cells in the future because, unlike silicon cells, certain layers of perovskite solar cells can be manufactured at room temperature. 

Let’s check out all the major advantages of perovskite solar cells in detail:

• They’re more efficient than silicon solar cells: The laboratory efficiency of single-layer perovskite solar cells is ~26%. For perovskite-on-silicon tandem cells, the maximum recorded efficiency in labs is ~34%. However, at the same time, you must understand that these figures are for controlled conditions. The real-life efficiency of silicon-based bifacial panels with mono-PERC half-cut cells is up to 22.5%. This figure is excellent considering we’re talking about outdoor stability. 
• They can grab light really well, even when thin: Perovskites soak up sunlight strongly. It means the layer doesn’t have to be very thick for the performance to be good. 
• They’re lightweight and flexible: Because the active layers are thin and can go on plastic, it’s possible to make lighter, bendable perovskite solar cells. These could be apt for places where regular, rigid solar panels don’t fit. 
• Since they are made with simple coating/printing steps, their manufacturing cost can be lower: Many perovskite layers can be deposited with low-temperature methods like slot-die or blade coating. This can lower manufacturing costs and energy use at factories scale.

What Are the Major Disadvantages of Perovskite Solar Cells?

The biggest challenge that hampers perovskite solar technology from going mainstream in on-grid and off-grid solar systems is the material’s sensitivity to moisture, oxygen, and temperature fluctuations that can cause the cell to rapidly degrade.

Let’s check out all the major limitations of perovskite solar cells:

• Poor performance and unstable nature in outdoor conditions: Perovskite solar cells are unsuitable for rooftop solar panel systems in homes, housing societies, and commercial buildings due to their inability to withstand harsh weather conditions. Out in the open, they can last for 1-2.5 years only. This is significantly less than the 25+ year lifespan of silicon-based bifacial solar panels that use mono-PERC half-cut cells. 
• Scaling challenges: Maintaining laboratory efficiency in large-area commercial production is currently unrealistic due to the extreme sensitivity of perovskite solar cells to moisture and temperature fluctuations. 
• They need excellent sealing: Moisture, oxygen, heat and UV can sneak in and degrade the cell if the barrier isn’t top-notch. Adding such a strong encapsulation layer adds to the complexity.

What Are the Main Applications of Perovskite?

Although they’re not used to make perovskite solar panels at a commercial scale yet, perovskite solar cells have many other applications, like integration into buildings and portable electronic devices. They also find applications in space exploration missions.

Let’s check out all current practical applications of perovskite solar:

• Building integration: Persovskite solar cells can be seamlessly incorporated into windows, facades, and architectural elements because they’re flexible, cost-effective, and lightweight.
• Portable electronics: These can be used as flexible charging solutions for wearable devices and mobile equipment while camping or hiking in off-grid locations. In addition to these, you can also use traditional silicon-based 10-watt solar panels or 20-watt solar panels for on-the-go charging. 
• Space applications: Given the controlled environment of space, perovskite solar cells can be used to develop lightweight solar arrays for satellites and space exploration missions.
• Agricultural systems: They can also be used as transparent cells to build a solar greenhouse for maintaining crops.

Perovskite Solar Cells vs Silicon Solar Panels

In theory, the efficiency of perovskite solar might look better than silicon solar panels, but that’s far from the truth when it comes to installing residential and commercial rooftop solar panel systems. Latest studies have shown that perovskite can’t last for more than 2.5 years in outdoor conditions. 

On the contrary, premium-quality silicon solar panels, such as bifacial modules made with mono-PERC half-cut cells, boast a lifespan of 25+ years and achieve a real-world efficiency of up to 22.5%.

Before we answer whether or not you should wait for perovskite solar panels to install rooftop solar systems, here’s a tabulated snapshot of the key differences between the two technologies:

Feature	Bifacial Solar Panels With Mono-PERC Half-Cut Silicon Cells	Perovskite Solar
Efficiency	Up to 22.5% in the real world	~26% for single-junction perovskite solar cells in a controlled lab environment
Lifespan	25+ years	~1-2.5 years
Manufacturing temperature	Usually, 1,000°C+	Room temperature
Flexibilty	Rigid	Bendable
Market availability	Available in abundance	Limited availability Not available for commercial-scale solar systems

Should You Wait for Perovskite Solar to Install Rooftop Solar Systems at Homes?

Although the third-generation perovskite-on-silicon tandem cells are up to 34% efficient, it’s worth noting that these efficiency rates are recorded in controlled lab settings. In the real world, mass-scale adoption of perovskite solar panels is for the very distant future. The technology is not stable enough to withstand harsh outdoor conditions.  

Waiting for perovskite solar panels to become mainstream before you install an on-grid solar system at your home isn’t a wise decision. The electricity tariffs in India increase by 3-6% annually. Installing on-grid rooftop solar today can reduce your electricity bills by at least 90%, or make them completely nil. The result? Tens of lakhs of rupees saved.

Don’t believe us? Let’s give you a simple comparison table that highlights the estimated cost of installing a rooftop on-grid solar system in Nagpur after you get a subsidy under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana vs the money that same solar system will save for you in 25 years of its life:

Solar System Size	Solar Panel Price in Nagpur With Subsidy (Starting Price – Indicative for Base Variant)*	Solar Savings in Nagpur in 25 Years*
2 kWp	~ Rs. 1.15 lakh	~ Rs. 11.05 lakh
3 kWp	~ Rs. 1.32 lakh	~ Rs. 16.58 lakh
4 kWp	~ Rs. 1.77 lakh	~ Rs. 22.11 lakh
5 kWp	~ Rs. 2.27 lakh	~ Rs. 34.43 lakh
10 kWp	~ Rs. 5.02 lakh	~ Rs. 68.86 lakh

*Please note: The above-mentioned solar plate price is indicative as of 20th August 2025 for the SolarSquare Blue 6ft variant. The final cost of installing an on-grid rooftop solar panel system at home depends on your DISCOM charges, product variant opted for, panel type, inverter type, mounting structure height, type of after-sales service, savings guarantee, roof height, etc. Prices are subject to change. Additionally, while calculating savings, we have considered the annual tariff escalation at 3% and the annual degradation at 1%. The actual final savings from solar panel installation depend on the types of solar panels you’ve installed and their efficiency, intensity of sunlight your rooftop receives, orientation of the panels and tilt angle, the pollution level and weather conditions in your city, the temperature, shadow on the roof, impact of dirt/dust, and how well you maintain your panels after installation.

So, you see? Going solar today will save lakhs of rupees that will otherwise be spent on paying those hefty electricity bills. If you’re not from Nagpur, you can use SolarSquare’s free rooftop solar calculator to get an estimate of solar savings in your city.

Conclusion 

Perovskite solar cells have continued attracting researchers and scientists for centuries because of their ability to absorb different wavelengths of sunlight and deliver a higher DC output by converting captured sunlight into electricity. However, it could be decades before the technology becomes practical to be adopted for commercial and residential rooftop solar installations. 

If you’ve been looking to install solar at your home and have any questions about it, get in touch with SolarSquare today. You can also download our free solar handbook, which answers most of the questions homeowners have about going solar.  

FAQs

Q1. How long do perovskite solar cells last?

Ans. Various tests and studies have shown that perovskite solar cells can last between 1 to 2.5 years in outdoor conditions.

Q2. Is perovskite a semiconductor?

Ans. Yes. The perovskite compounds used in solar cells are light-absorbing semiconductor materials.

Q3. What is the cost of perovskite solar cells in India in 2025?

Ans. There isn’t a standard market price for perovskite solar cells in India yet. These cells are mostly in the pilot/testing stage. Perovskite solar panels are not available for customers commercially yet.

Q4. Is perovskite cheaper than silicon?

Ans. It could be in the future because many layers can be made with low-temperature coating/printing.

Q5. What is the maximum efficiency of perovskite solar cells?

Ans. The maximum recorded lab efficiency of a pure, single-junction perovskite solar cell is 26%. However, the lab efficiency of perovskite-on-silicon tandem cells has been recorded as ~34%.

Q6. Do on-grid solar systems have lithium batteries?

Ans. No. Lithium batteries are needed with battery-connected solar systems, like off-grid and hybrid systems. They’re not needed with on-grid solar systems.