All-perovskite–based polycrystalline thin-film tandem solar cells have the potential to deliver efficiencies of >30%. However, the performance of all-perovskite–based tandem devices has been limited by the lack of high-efficiency, low–band gap tin-lead (Sn-Pb) mixed-perovskite solar cells (PSCs). We found that the addition of guanidinium thiocyanate (GuaSCN) resulted in marked improvements in the structural and optoelectronic properties of Sn-Pb mixed, low–band gap (~1.25 electron volt) perovskite films. The films have defect densities that are lower by a factor of 10, leading to carrier lifetimes of greater than 1 microsecond and diffusion lengths of 2.5 micrometers. These improved properties enable our demonstration of >20% efficient low–band gap PSCs. When combined with wider–band gap PSCs, we achieve 25% efficient four-terminal and 23.1% efficient two-terminal all-perovskite–based polycrystalline thin-film tandem solar cells.
serious challenges due to the inclusion of toxic Pb and instability against moisture, heat, and irradiation. In recent years, significant efforts have been paid to develop Pb-free halide perovskite and perovskite derivative absorber materials. However, so far, solar cells based on these materials show significantly inferior performances as compared to their Pb halide perovskite counterparts. Herein, we provide reviews on the fundamental understandings of the photovoltaic properties from Pb halide perovskites to Pb-free metal halide perovskites and perovskite derivatives as well as the experimental results reported in the literature. The results suggest that replacing Pb by nontoxic elements may degrade the superior photovoltaic properties seen in Pb halide perovskites, explaining the fact that all reported solar cells based on Pb-free perovskites or perovskite derivatives show performances significantly lower than Pb halide perovskite solar cells.
Overview: Approaches and Consequences of Pb ReplacementWe first provide an overview of the approaches and consequences of Pb replacement reported in the literature, as shown in Figure 1. In general, there are two categories for Pb replacement: using either homovalent elements such as Sn and Ge or heterovalent elements such as Bi and Sb. The heterovalent replacement category can be divided into two subcategories based on the ways to maintain the charge neutrality: ion-splitting and ordered vacancy. The ion-splitting subcategory can be further divided into mixed anion compounds with the formula of AB(Ch,X) 3 , where Ch represents a chalcogen element, and X represents a halogen element, and mixed cation compounds with a formula of A 2 B(I)B(III)X 6 , which are commonly called double perovskites. The ordered vacancy subcategory can also be divided into the B(III) compounds with a formula of A 3 ◻B(III)X 9 and the B(IV) compounds with a formula of A 2 ◻ B(IV)X 6 (the sign of ◻ indicates vacancy). Figure 1 also summarizes the photovoltaic properties and the stabilities of each group of materials, which provides a clear overview of the consequences of Pb replacement. While the homovalent replacement by Sn or Ge leads to instability, the heterovalent Pb replacement leads to degraded electronic properties mainly due to the reduction on electronic dimensionality. As a result, all the reported Pb-free perovskite and perovskite derivative solar Despite the exciting progress on power conversion efficiencies, the commercialization of the emerging lead (Pb) halide perovskite solar cell technology still faces significant challenges, one of which is the inclusion of toxic Pb. Searching for Pb-free perovskite solar cell absorbers is currently an attractive research direction. The approaches used for and the consequences of Pb replacement are reviewed herein. Reviews on the theoretical understanding of the electronic, optical, and defect properties of Pb and Pb-free halide perovskites and perovskite derivatives are provided, as well as the experimental results available in the literature....
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