by Robert Schreiber
Berlin, Germany (SPX) Dec 04, 2025
Perovskite photo voltaic cells are underneath improvement as candidates for subsequent technology photovoltaic modules, however business use stays restricted by long run instability pushed partially by migrating ions within the absorber layer. A staff from Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) and the College of Potsdam has now measured ion densities in 4 extensively used perovskite compounds and located substantial variations between lead and tin primarily based supplies.
Perovskite analysis over the previous decade has targeted primarily on organometallic compounds by which lead occupies the B web site within the ABX3 crystal construction. Lead perovskite photo voltaic cells have achieved energy conversion efficiencies which have risen from round 4 % to greater than 27 %, however using poisonous lead and restricted system lifetimes stay main drawbacks.
The lead cation could be changed by tin, a non poisonous ingredient, to take away lead from the system. Tin primarily based perovskite photo voltaic cells presently present decrease efficiencies than lead gadgets, but this will mirror the early stage of analysis on tin methods fairly than a basic restrict. Dr Artem Musiienko, who leads an HZB analysis group, notes that “In purely theoretical phrases, tin-based perovskite photo voltaic cells may even exceed the effectivity of lead-based perovskites.”
The examine addresses one of many important causes of instability in perovskite cells, the presence of cellular halide ions that transfer via the lattice, speed up materials degradation, and scale back effectivity throughout operation. Musiienko’s staff, along with the Antonio Abate group at HZB and the Felix Lang group on the College of Potsdam, examined 4 consultant perovskite compositions and decided each the density of cellular ions and their migration habits.
“We discovered not solely that tin primarily based perovskites have a decrease focus of cellular ions but additionally that they intrinsically exhibit a degradation time 5 occasions slower than that of lead primarily based perovskites,” says Musiienko. The tin perovskite supplies had been fabricated within the HZB Hysprint laboratory utilizing two solvent methods: one composition synthesized with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and one other produced with an alternate DMF DMI solvent. The solvent variation strategy demonstrates a path to keep away from tin oxidation linked to robust DMSO coordination, according to earlier investigations reported in Chemistry of Supplies in 2022.
The measurements present that the lead primarily based perovskite had the very best cellular ion density among the many samples studied. Ion density was considerably decrease within the blended lead tin perovskite and in a tin perovskite made with the traditional solvent. A serious outcome got here from the tin perovskite processed with the choice solvent: “This was actually sudden: these FASnI3 photo voltaic cells have ten occasions fewer cellular ions than the Pb-based photo voltaic cells. We additionally discovered that they exhibited wonderful stability throughout operation for over 600 hours,” experiences PhD researcher Shengnan Zuo from Musiienko’s staff.
The work strengthens the case for expanded analysis on tin primarily based perovskites as candidates for secure, lead free skinny movie photo voltaic cells. “We’re satisfied that tin-based perovskites have monumental potential and that investigating these supplies is an excellent thought. There are probabilities to considerably enhance their effectivity and stability. This examine paves the way in which for the event of revolutionary, secure thin-film photo voltaic cells with suppressed ion migration,” says Musiienko.
Associated Hyperlinks
Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin fuer Materialien und Energie
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