Lead-free perovskite solar cells

How fluorine additives improve quality

29-Jul-2021 - Germany

tin halide perovskites are currently considered the best alternative to lead-containing analogues, but are still significantly less efficient and stable compared to them. Now, a team led by Prof. Antonio Abate from HZB has analysed the chemical processes in the perovskite precursor solution and its fluoride chemistry in detail. Using a clever combination of measurement methods at BESSY II with nuclear magnetic resonance, they were able to show that fluoride prevents the oxidation of tin, which leads to a more homogeneous film formation with fewer defects and increases the quality of the semiconductor layer.

Lead halide perovskite solar cells promise very high efficiencies at low manufacturing costs. However, the toxicity of lead raises serious environmental issues. The search for lead-free alternatives is in full swing. Tin is currently considered the best choice, but is prone to oxidation and uncontrolled crystallization, which limits solar cell manufacturing, performance, and stability.

One of the most common strategies to obtain good quality tin-based perovskite films is to use stannous fluoride (SnF2) as an additive in the solution-based fabrication process. Many studies show that SnF2 improves the optoelectronic and morphological properties of perovskite films. However, why this additive has this effect has not been sufficiently elucidated so far.

Now, for the first time, a team led by Prof. Antonio Abate has elucidated the chemical role of SnF2 in the perovskite precursor solution that is responsible for these improvements. The key lies in the chemical properties of the fluoride anions. Tin readily oxidizes from Sn(II) to Sn(IV) and in this form creates defects in the semiconductor layer. Results of nuclear magnetic resonance analysis now showed that the fluoride anions from SnF2 have a strong affinity for Sn(IV) and form the compound SnF4. Using photoelectron spectroscopy at BESSY II, the team was able to demonstrate that SnF4 shows a lower tendency to be incorporated into the perovskite structure. This significantly reduces the Sn(IV) content in the thin film. Finally, small-angle X-ray scattering measurements at BESSY II showed that the fluoride positively influences the nucleation process in the precursor solution, thus improving crystallization.

"Simply put, fluoride anions bind oxidized Sn(IV) in solution, as SnF4. The reduced binding propensity of this material to perovskite-like species prevents its inclusion in the perovskite film," says Jorge Pascual, a postdoctoral researcher in Abate's group who studies tin halide perovskites. "In addition, fluoride improves the colloidal stability of tin halide perovskite precursor solutions, with the precursor subunits forming a more evenly distributed pre-order, leading to more homogeneous crystal growth," explains Marion Flatken, who carried out the research as part of her PhD.

These results come at the right time. Based on this study, it may be possible to find other additives with which the properties of lead-free perovskite solar cells can be further improved in a targeted manner.

Note: This article has been translated using a computer system without human intervention. LUMITOS offers these automatic translations to present a wider range of current news. Since this article has been translated with automatic translation, it is possible that it contains errors in vocabulary, syntax or grammar. The original article in German can be found here.

Original publication

Fluoride Chemistry in Tin Halide Perovskites Jorge Pascual, Marion Flatken, Roberto Félix, Guixiang Li, Silver-Hamill Turren-Cruz, Mahmoud H. Aldamasy, Claudia Hartmann, Meng Li, Diego Di Girolamo, Giuseppe Nasti, Elif Hüsam, Regan G. Wilks, André Dallmann, Marcus Bär, Armin Hoell, Antonio Abate

https://www.chemeurope.com/en/news/1172132/lead-free-perovskite-solar-cells.html