Mixed tin–lead halide perovskite
solar cells have promising
power conversion efficiencies, but long-term stability is still a
challenge. Herein we examine the stability of a 60:40 tin–lead
perovskite to better understand diminished device performance upon
thermal treatment, both in ambient and inert atmosphere. Operando X-ray diffraction shows a stable bulk structure of the perovskite
absorber, leading to the hypothesis that surface chemistry dominates
the degradation mechanism. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy reveals
two new observations post-thermal annealing that accompany previously
reported Sn4+ evolution: (i) the formation of I3
– intermediates preceding I2 loss at
the surface and (ii) evidence of under-coordinated tin and lead surface
sites (Snδ<2+ and Pbδ<2+,
respectively) in inert and ambient conditions. These two species indicate
an activated corrosion (i.e., both oxidation and reduction) process
at the surface as a possible chemical pathway for degradation, which
is expected to be accelerated under operando voltage
and light biases.