Recent Progress in Fabrication of Antimony/Bismuth Chalcohalides for Lead-Free Solar Cell Applications

Abstract

Despite their comparable performance to commercial solar systems, lead-based perovskite (Pb-perovskite) solar cells exhibit limitations including Pb toxicity and instability for industrial applications. To address these issues, two types of Pb-free materials have been proposed as alternatives to Pb-perovskite: perovskite-based and non-perovskite-based materials. In this review, we summarize the recent progress on solar cells based on antimony/bismuth (Sb/Bi) chalcohalides, representing Sb/Bi non-perovskite semiconductors containing chalcogenides and halides. Two types of ternary and quaternary chalcohalides are described, with their classification predicated on the fabrication method. We also highlight their utility as interfacial layers for improving other solar cells. This review provides clues for improving the performances of devices and design of multifunctional solar systems.

Hidden spontaneous polarisation in the chalcohalide photovoltaic absorber Sn2SbS2I3

“…These materials have already demonstrated promising efficiencies (>4 % 1,6,7 ) alongside lowcost fabrication methods, representing a fertile area for stable, non-toxic high-performance solar cells. 8 Further increases in power-conversion efficiencies (PCEs) will be required to achieve commercial viability. 5 Here we focus on tin antimony sulfoiodide (Sn 2 SbS 2 I 3 ).…”

Electrical response of organic molecule supported preformed and in situ formed antimony sulfide nanoparticles under frequency conditions

“…28 The effectiveness of solar cell has been improved for light induced electrical signal by using antimony doped perovskite halide system. 29,30 Our recent studies also demonstrated that the light sensitive resistive switching behaviour for antimony-sulfide based material where the device exhibited unipolar and bipolar switching behaviour under two different optical conditions with moderately high ON to OFF ratio. 31 The dielectric capacitance and field induced polarization behaviour of antimony based material either in the bulk or nano-form has been neglected in the literature.…”

Alternative Lone‐Pair ns2‐Cation‐Based Semiconductors beyond Lead Halide Perovskites for Optoelectronic Applications

“…aligned the energy levels of SbSI, BiSI, and Sb 0.67 Bi 0.33 SI with common ETLs and HTLs, as shown in Figure 15e. [ 259 ] The comparison demonstrated the effective tunability of band structure via chemical substitution in AMX family. Considering the similar band energy of SbSBr with that of Cu 2 ZnSnS 4 , the suitable contacts to copper materials also allow its utilization in SbSBr‐based solar cells.…”

“…Thus, by mapping a series of materials, including PbX (X = S, Se, Te), Sb 2 Te 3 , Bi 2 X 3 (X = Se, Te), and inorganic halide perovskites, into a 2D space with the ES and ET as two coordinates, they found MVB had well‐defined borders to covalent, and iono‐covalent regions, indicating its distinction. [ 229–307 ] Such a map demonstrated that the MVB mechanism approximately possessed one shared electron and moderate electron transfer between adjacent atoms. This predictive model can also give rise to the favorable characteristics in above materials, including large Born effective charge, high optical dielectric constants, strong optical interband transition, etc.…”