Crystalline silicon solar cells have long dominated the global photovoltaic market due to their mature manufacturing processes, excellent stability, and abundant raw material reserves, accounting for over 90% of the total PV market share. However, single−junction c−Si solar cells are approaching the Shockley–Queisser (SQ) efficiency limit of ~29.4%, creating an urgent need for next−generation PV technologies to achieve higher power conversion efficiency (PCE). Monolithic perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells (PSTSCs) stand as the most commercially promising technology to surpass the single−junction efficiency limit. Since their first demonstration in 2015, PSTSCs have experienced rapid technological advancement, with the certified PCE reaching 35.0% in 2026. This review posits that their rapid efficiency ascent is not serendipitous but driven by synergistic innovations across critical subsystems. We systematically deconstruct these efficiency drivers, encompassing top−cell materials, bottom−cell architecture, and optical management. We conclude by outlining future research frontiers essential for transforming this lab−champion technology into a mainstream energy solution.
Sun et al. (2026) studied this question.