Mixed Sulfur and Iodide-Based Lead-Free Perovskite Solar Cells

Abstract

The use of divalent chalcogenides and monovalent halides as anions in a perovskite structure allows the introduction of 3 and 4 charged cations in the place of the 2 metal cations. Herein we report for the first time on the fabrication of solar cells exploiting methylammonium antimony sulfur diiodide (MASbSI) perovskite structures, as light harvesters. The MASbSI was prepared by annealing under mild temperature conditions, via a sequential reaction between antimony trisulfide (SbS), which is deposited by the chemical bath deposition (CBD) method, antimony triiodide (SbI), and methylammonium iodide (MAI) onto a mesoporous TiO electrode, and then annealed at 150 °C in an argon atmosphere. The solar cells fabricated using MASbSI exhibited power conversion efficiencies (PCE) of 3.08%, under the standard illumination conditions of 100 mW/cm.

Lead-free hybrid perovskites for photovoltaics

“…In the case of antimony, stable compounds of MA 3 Sb 2 I 9 [90,153], MASbSI 2 [87], and Cs 3 Sb 2 I 9 [88–90 154] were reported, while for bismuth, a larger array of compositions was studied, including MA 3 Bi 2 I 9 (MABI) [84–85 155–163], Cs 3 Bi 2 X 9 [164–165], and MA 2 KBiCl 6 [166]. The reported bandgaps of selected Bi- and Sb-based HPs are collected in Table 3.…”

“…This idea was realized in the case of MASbSI 2 HP produced by a sequential stepwise method by reacting Sb 2 S 3 with SbI 3 and then with MAI on the surface of a mesoporous TiO 2 scaffold [87]. The MASbSI 2 HP displayed a bandgap of 1.62 eV and CB/VB positions suitable for the electron/hole transport to TiO 2 and a variety of HTL materials, respectively (Fig.…”

“…The PCPSTBT abbreviation is explained in the notes of Table 1. Reprinted and adapted with permission from [87], copyright 2018 American Chemical Society.…”

“…The CB/VB levels are taken from [78] (MASnBr 3 ), [79] (CsSnBr 3 ), [80–81] (MASnI 3 ), [80,82] (FASnI 3 ), and [80,83] (Cs 2 SnI 6 ), [67–86] (MA 3 Bi 2 I 9 ), [87] (MASbSI 2 ), [88–90] (Cs 3 Sb 2 I 9 ), and [91] (Rb 3 Sb 2 I 9 ). (a,b) Reprinted with permission from [27], copyright 2018 The Royal Society of Chemistry.…”

Influence of Urbach Energy, Temperature, and Longitudinal Position in the Active Layer on Carrier Diffusion Length in Perovskite Solar Cells

“…To reduce this noxious outcome of fossil fuel combustions, renewable sources of energy should be put into practice among which the solar energy is most accessible. [4,5] High PCE in PSCs may be attributed to the high absorption coefficient, high carrier mobilities, and long charge carrier diffusion lengths. However, for converting solar energy into electricity we need low-cost and highly efficient solar cells.…”