Abstract
Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have been emerging as a breakthrough photovoltaic technology, holding unprecedented promise for low-cost, high-efficiency renewable electricity generation. However, potential toxicity associated with the state-of-the-art lead-containing PSCs has become a major concern. The past research in the development of lead-free PSCs has met with mixed success. Herein, the promise of coarse-grained B-γ-CsSnI3 perovskite thin films as light absorber for efficient lead-free PSCs is demonstrated. Thermally-driven solid-state coarsening of B-γ-CsSnI3 perovskite grains employed here is accompanied by an increase of tin-vacancy concentration in their crystal structure, as supported by first-principles calculations. The optimal device architecture for the efficient photovoltaic operation of these B-γ-CsSnI3 thin films is identified through exploration of several device architectures. Via modulation of the B-γ-CsSnI3 grain coarsening, together with the use of the optimal PSC architecture, planar heterojunction-depleted B-γ-CsSnI3 PSCs with power conversion efficiency up to 3.31% are achieved without the use of any additives. The demonstrated strategies provide guidelines and prospects for developing future high-performance lead-free PVs.
Original language | English (US) |
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Article number | 1601130 |
Journal | Advanced Energy Materials |
Volume | 6 |
Issue number | 24 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 21 2016 |
Keywords
- CsSnI3
- grain coarsening
- heterojunction-depleted
- lead-free
- perovskite solar cells
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
- General Materials Science