Tin-halide perovskites have great potential as photovoltaic materials, but their performance is hampered by undesirable oxidation of Sn(II) to Sn(IV). In this work, we use nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR)...

Tin halide perovskites attract incremental attention to deliver lead‐free perovskite solar cells. Nevertheless, disordered crystal growth and low defect formation energy, related to Sn(II) oxidation to Sn(IV), limit the efficiency and stability of solar cells. Engineering the processing from perovskite precursor solution preparation to film crystallization is crucial to tackle these issues and enable the full photovoltaic potential of tin halide perovskites. Herein, the ionic liquid n‐butylammonium acetate (BAAc) is used to tune the tin coordination with specific O…Sn chelating bonds and NH…X hydrogen bonds. The coordination between BAAc and tin enables modulation of the crystallization of the perovskite in a thin film. The resulting BAAc‐containing perovskite films are more compact and have a preferential crystal orientation. Moreover, a lower amount of Sn(IV) and related chemical defects are found for the BAAc‐containing perovskites. Tin halide perovskite solar cells processed with BAAc show a power conversion efficiency of over 10%. This value is retained after storing the devices for over 1000 h in nitrogen. This work paves the way toward a more controlled tin‐based perovskite crystallization for stable and efficient lead‐free perovskite photovoltaics.

Daily temperature variations induce phase transitions and lattice strains in halide perovskites, challenging their stability in solar cells. We stabilized the perovskite black phase and improved solar cell performance using the ordered dipolar structure of β-poly(1,1-difluoroethylene) to control perovskite film crystallization and energy alignment. We demonstrated p-i-n perovskite solar cells with a record power conversion efficiency of 24.6% over 18 square millimeters and 23.1% over 1 square centimeter, which retained 96 and 88% of the efficiency after 1000 hours of 1-sun maximum power point tracking at 25° and 75°C, respectively. Devices under rapid thermal cycling between −60° and +80°C showed no sign of fatigue, demonstrating the impact of the ordered dipolar structure on the operational stability of perovskite solar cells.

Low toxicity and an ideal energy bandgap make two-dimensional (2D) Ruddlesden–Popper tin-based halide perovskites a promising photovoltaic material. However, the disordered crystal orientation and the oxidation of Sn2+ to Sn4+ still need to be addressed. Here, we demonstrate that the annealing of FASnI3 assisted by phenyl ethylammonium chloride enables the formation of more ordered 2D tin-based perovskite crystals oriented vertically. We use in situ synchrotron-based grazing incident X-ray diffraction to correlate the higher crystal orientation to the better device performance. We measured a maximum power conversion efficiency of more than 9%. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the phenyl ethylammonium chloride acts as a barrier layer at the surface of the crystals protecting the tin from the oxidation. Hence, this work paves the way for more efficient and stable lead-free perovskite solar cells.

Tin is one of the most promising alternatives to lead to make lead-free halide perovskites for optoelectronics. However, the stability of tin-based perovskites is hindered by the oxidation of Sn­(II) to Sn­(IV). Recent works established that dimethyl sulfoxide, which is one of the best-performing solvents for processing perovskite, is the primary source of tin oxidation. The quest for a stable solvent could be a game-changer in the stability of tin-based perovskites. Starting from a database of over 2000 solvents, we identified a series of 12 new solvents suitable for the processing of formamidinium tin iodide perovskite (FASnI3) by investigating (1) the solubility of the precursor chemicals FAI and SnI2, (2) the thermal stability of the precursor solution, and (3) the possibility of forming perovskite. Finally, we demonstrate a new solvent system to produce solar cells outperforming those based on DMSO. Our work provides guidelines for further identification of new solvents or solvent mixtures for preparing stable tin-based perovskites.

Large datasets are now ubiquitous as technology enables higher-throughput experiments, but rarely can a research field truly benefit from the research data generated due to inconsistent formatting, undocumented storage or improper dissemination. Here we extract all the meaningful device data from peer-reviewed papers on metal-halide perovskite solar cells published so far and make them available in a database. We collect data from over 42,400 photovoltaic devices with up to 100 parameters per device. We then develop open-source and accessible procedures to analyse the data, providing examples of insights that can be gleaned from the analysis of a large dataset. The database, graphics and analysis tools are made available to the community and will continue to evolve as an open-source initiative. This approach of extensively capturing the progress of an entire field, including sorting, interactive exploration and graphical representation of the data, will be applicable to many fields in materials science, engineering and biosciences.

Tin is the frontrunner for substituting toxic lead in perovskite solar cells. However, tin suffers the detrimental oxidation of SnII to SnIV. Most of reported strategies employ SnF2 in the perovskite precursor solution to prevent SnIV formation. Nevertheless, the working mechanism of this additive remains debated. To further elucidate it, we investigate the fluoride chemistry in tin halide perovskites by complementary analytical tools. NMR analysis of the precursor solution discloses a strong preferential affinity of fluoride anions for SnIV over SnII, selectively complexing it as SnF4. Hard X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy on films shows the lower tendency of SnF4 than SnI4 to get included in the perovskite structure, hence preventing the inclusion of SnIV in the film. Finally, small‐angle X‐ray scattering reveals the strong influence of fluoride on the colloidal chemistry of precursor dispersions, directly affecting perovskite crystallization.

In 2020 dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), the ever-present solvent for tin halide perovskites, was identified as an oxidant for Sn II . Nonetheless, alternatives are lacking and few efforts have been devoted to replacing it. To understand this trend it is indispensable to learn the importance of DMSO on the development of tin halide perovskites. Its unique properties have allowed processing compact thin-films to be integrated into tin perovskite solar cells. Creative approaches for controlling the perovskite crystallization or increasing its stability to oxidation have been developed relying on DMSObased inks. However, increasingly sophisticated strategies appear to lead the field to a plateau of power conversion efficiency in the range of 10-15 %. And, while DMSO-based formulations have performed in encouraging means so far, we should also start considering their potential limitations. In this concept article, we discuss the benefits and limitations of DMSO-based tin perovskite processing.