Saykar, Nilesh G.Arya, AnilMahapatra, S.K.2024-01-212024-08-132024-01-212024-08-132021-10-0722372710.1088/1361-6463/ac2d63http://10.2.3.109/handle/32116/3675Recent advances in photovoltaic devices demonstrate a potential candidature of the lead halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) to fulfill the all-electric future of the world. Further improvements in efficiency and stability require minimization of non-radiative recombination arising due to the tr ap states created by the vacancies and defects. The device's performance is mostly determined by the perovskite absorber material, which has single-cation, mixed-cation, and/or mixed-halide composition-dependent optoelectronic capabilities. Herein, we present an insight on the state of the art of PSCs, including types of defects, their effects, and remedies of the same. Various design strategies administered to grow highly crystalline perovskite films with low defects at interfaces are described in detail. The inclusion of a few nm thin interlayer between perovskite and charge transport layer (CTL) is an effective way to passivate the defect at the interface. Furthermore, additive engineering is emerging as an excellent strategy to grow the defect-free perovskite by simply adding a polymer, ionic liquids, organic/inorganic salts in precursor solution without precipitating after film formation. The mitigation of charge recombination could be achieved by efficient charge extraction through proper energy alignment of CTLs and absorbers. Notably, we emphasize the interface, additive, and gradient band alignment engineering and resulting improvement in the photocurrent density, photovoltage, power conversion efficiency, and long-term stability. The present review gives complete information about PSCs, starting from the selection of the materials to PSC fabrication, charge carrier dynamics, defects, effects, and remedies. We hope that this summarised information will give a basic understanding of designing new passivation strategies for advancing PSC's present state of the art. � 2021 IOP Publishing Ltd.en-USadditive engineeringcharge carrier dynamicsdefect passivationgraded heterojunctionsgradient energy alignmentinterface passivationperovskite solar cellReviewhttps://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1361-6463/ac2d63