Recent advances on synthesis and applications of lead- and tin-free perovskites

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds Vol. 835; p. 155112
• Main Authors: Román-Vázquez, Mabiel, Vidyasagar, C.C., Muñoz-Flores, Blanca M., Jiménez-Pérez, Víctor M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 15-09-2020; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Alternative energy; Alternative energy sources; Antimony; Bismuth; Commercialization; Copper; Emissions control; Environmental impact; Greenhouse effect; Greenhouse gases; Lead; Manganese; Niobium; Perovskites; Photovoltaic cells; Silver; Solar cells; Thermal stability; Thin film deposition; Tin; Toxicity; Toxicology; Solar cells; Lead; Tin; Perovskites; Thin film deposition
• ISSN: 0925-8388; 1873-4669
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2020.155112

The expansion of alternative energy sources is one of the most vital goals all over the world to cut down the emission of greenhouse gases. Nowadays, the scientific community is facing the biggest challenge to innovate efficient photovoltaic cells, relatively high thermal stability and non-toxic environmental devices shortly. Currently, perovskites derived from lead, tin having high toxicity with negative environmental implications creating several obstacles to commercialize it. Thus, the key challenge connected with the conventional perovskite is the toxicity of lead and tin (Pb and Sn), which results negative impact on the environment. Currently, remarkable breakthroughs were found on non-toxic perovskites, keeping the major significant challenges in mind. We have focused on synthetic methods of non-toxic perovskites, toxicological information and fabrications of free-lead and tin perovskites (Mn, Sc, Ti, Fe, Cu, Ge, Nb, Ag, Sb, and Bi). This review data is of high impact on the commercialization of non-toxic perovskites in the future.
In summary, this review showed the alternatives that have emerged over the decades, for the substitution of toxic metals such as Pb and Sn, due to the damage they can cause on the human organism and the damage that cause on the environment. That is why the importance of this review focuses on exposing the reader to what perovskites have been synthesized in several research groups around the world that have shown to have positive energy conversion efficiency, even these are in development. [Display omitted]
•This review showed the alternatives that have emerged over the decades in solar cells.•Perovskites are degraded in their respective iodides (SnI2 and PbI2) to contact with the humidity of the environment.•Flexible solar cells which opens an immense panorama of opportunities.•Flexible cells have been demonstrated at lower cost of production which gives a very important plus point in favour.•Few alternatives could be substituted such as Ge, Al, Ti, Mn, Cu, etc.