Microstructural disorder in perovskite photovoltaics

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

Perovskites have emerged as promising semiconductors for solar cells and optoelectronics. Despite rapid advancements in device performance over the past decade, a quantitative investigation into structure-property relationships remains absent. The core of these innovations in fabrication lies in controlling long-range and short-range microstructural disorders in perovskites, yet their systematic impact across multiple spatial scales remains underexplored. In this review, we elaborate on hidden microstructural disorders, including interfacial disorders and intra-crystal disorders, further delving into their formation mechanisms and effects on mechanical reliability and long-term operational stability of perovskites. Unraveling these effects requires a combined approach of theoretical modeling and experimental characterization. Furthermore, we discuss theory-driven engineering strategies to mitigate such microstructural disorders, enabling the predictable processing and fabrication of stable and high-efficiency perovskite solar cells. This review aims to establish a foundational framework for transitioning from microstructure observation to microstructure control, which represents a critical frontier in the advancement of perovskite photovoltaics.