Lead‐Free Double Perovskite Cs2SnX6: Facile Solution Synthesis and Excellent Stability

Long‐term instability and possible lead contamination are the two main issues limiting the widespread application of organic–inorganic lead halide perovskites. Here a facile and efficient solution‐phase method is demonstrated to synthesize lead‐free Cs₂SnX₆ (X = Br, I) with a well‐defined crystal structure, long‐term stability, and high yield. Based on the systematic experimental data and first‐principle simulation results, Cs₂SnX₆ displays excellent stability against moisture, light, and high temperature, which can be ascribed to the unique vacancy‐ordered defect‐variant structure, stable chemical compositions with Sn⁴⁺, as well as the lower formation enthalpy for Cs₂SnX₆. Additionally, photodetectors based on Cs₂SnI₆ are also fabricated, which show excellent performance and stability. This study provides very useful insights into the development of lead‐free double perovskites with high stability.     

Bandgap Engineering of Stable Lead‐Free Oxide Double Perovskites for Photovoltaics

Despite the rapid progress in solar power conversion efficiency of archetype organic–inorganic hybrid perovskite CH₃NH₃PbI₃‐based solar cells, the long‐term stability and toxicity of Pb remain the main challenges for the industrial deployment, leading to more uncertainties for global commercialization. The poor stabilities of CH₃NH₃PbI₃‐based solar cells may not only be attributed to the organic molecules but also the halides themself, most of which exhibit intrinsic instability under moisture and light. As an alternative, the possibility of oxide perovskites for photovoltaic applications is explored here. The class of lead‐free stable oxide double perovskites A₂M(III)M(V)O₆ (A = Ca, Sr, Ba; M(III) = Sb³⁺ or Bi³⁺; M(V) = V⁵⁺, Nb⁵⁺, or Ta⁵⁺) is comprehensively explored with regard to their stability and their electronic and optical properties. Apart from the strong stability, this class of double perovskites exhibits direct bandgaps ranging from 0.3 to 3.8 eV. With proper B site alloying, the bandgap can be tuned within the range of 1.0–1.6 eV with optical absorptions as strong as CH₃NH₃PbI₃, making them suitable for efficient single‐junction thin‐film solar cell application.     

Tunable Dual‐Emission in Monodispersed Sb3+/Mn2+ Codoped Cs2NaInCl6 Perovskite Nanocrystals through an Energy Transfer Process

Double halide perovskites are a class of promising semiconductors applied in photocatalysis, photovoltaic devices, and emitters to replace lead halide perovskites, owing to their nontoxicity and chemical stability. However, most double perovskites always exhibit low photoluminescence quantum efficiency (PLQE) due to the indirect bandgap structure or parity‐forbidden transition problem, limiting their further applications. Herein, the self‐trapped excitons emission of Cs₂NaInCl₆ by Sb‐doping, showing a blue emission with high PLQE of 84%, is improved. Further, Sb/Mn codoped Cs₂NaInCl₆ nanocrystals are successfully synthesized by the hot‐injection method, showing a tunable dual‐emission covering the white‐light spectrum. The studies of PL properties and dynamics reveal that an energy transfer process can occur between the self‐trapped excitons and dopants (Mn²⁺). The work provides a new perspective to design novel lead‐free double perovskites for realizing a unique white‐light emission.     

Tunable Color Temperatures and Efficient White Emission from Cs2Ag1−xNaxIn1−yBiyCl6 Double Perovskite Nanocrystals

Recently, Bi‐doped Cs₂Ag_0.6Na_0.4InCl₆ lead‐free double perovskites demonstrating efficient warm‐white emission have been reported. To enable the solution processing and enrich the application fields of this promising material, here a colloidal synthesis of Cs₂Ag_1?xNa_xIn_1?yBi_yCl₆ nanocrystals is further developed. Different from its bulk states, the emission color temperatures of the nanocrystal can be tuned from 9759.7 to 4429.2 K by Na⁺ and Bi³⁺ incorporation. Furthermore, the newly developed nanocrystals can break the wavefunction symmetry of the self‐trapped excitons by partial replacement of Ag⁺ ions with Na⁺ ions and consequently allow radiative recombination. Assisted with Bi³⁺ ions doping and ligand passivation, the photoluminescence quantum yield of the Cs₂Ag_0.17Na_0.83In_0.88Bi_0.12Cl₆ nanocrystals is further promoted to 64%, which is the highest value for lead‐free perovskite nanocrystals at present. The new colloidal nanocrystals with tunable color temperature and efficient photoluminescence are expected to greatly advance the research progress of lead‐free perovskites in single‐emitter‐based white emitting materials and devices.     

Long Electron–Hole Diffusion Length in High‐Quality Lead‐Free Double Perovskite Films

Developing environmentally friendly perovskites has become important in solving the toxicity issue of lead‐based perovskite solar cells. Here, the first double perovskite (Cs₂AgBiBr₆) solar cells using the planar structure are demonstrated. The prepared Cs₂AgBiBr₆ films are composed of high‐crystal‐quality grains with diameters equal to the film thickness, thus minimizing the grain boundary length and the carrier recombination. These high‐quality double perovskite films show long electron–hole diffusion lengths greater than 100 nm, enabling the fabrication of planar structure double perovskite solar cells. The resulting solar cells based on planar TiO₂ exhibit an average power conversion efficiency over 1%. This work represents an important step forward toward the realization of environmentally friendly solar cells and also has important implications for the applications of double perovskites in other optoelectronic devices.     

Doping and Switchable Photovoltaic Effect in Lead‐Free Perovskites Enabled by Metal Cation Transmutation

Creating defect tolerant lead‐free halide perovskites is the major challenge for development of high‐performance photovoltaics with nontoxic absorbers. Few compounds of Sn, Sb, or Bi possess ns² electronic configuration similar to lead, but their poor photovoltaic performances inspire us to evaluate other factors influencing defect tolerance properties. The effect of heavy metal cation (Bi) transmutation and ionic migration on the defects and carrier properties in a 2D layered perovskite (NH₄)₃(Sb_(1?x)Bi_x)₂I₉ system is investigated. It is shown, for the first time, the possibility of engineering the carriers in halide perovskites via metal cation transmutation to successfully form intrinsic p‐ and n‐type materials. It is also shown that this material possesses a direct–indirect bandgap enabling high absorption coefficient, extended carrier lifetimes >100 ns, and low trap densities similar to lead halide perovskites. This study also demonstrates the possibility of electrical poling to induce switchable photovoltaic effect without additional electron and hole transport layers.     

Environmentally Robust Memristor Enabled by Lead‐Free Double Perovskite for High‐Performance Information Storage

Memristors are emerging as a rising star of new computing and information storage techniques. However, the practical applications are severely challenged by their instability toward harsh conditions, including high moisture, high temperatures, fire, ionizing irradiation, and mechanical bending. In this work, for the first time, lead‐free double perovskite Cs₂AgBiBr₆ is utilized for environmentally robust memristors, enabling highly efficient information storage. The memory performance of the typical indium‐tin‐oxide/Cs₂AgBiBr₆/Au sandwich‐like memristors is retained after 1000 switching cycles, 10⁵ s of reading, and 10⁴ times of mechanical bending, comparable to other halide perovskite memristors. Most importantly, the memristive behavior remains robust in harsh environments, including humidity up to 80%, temperatures as high as 453 K, an alcohol burner flame for 10 s, and ⁶⁰Co γ‐ray irradiation for a dosage of 5 × 10⁵ rad (SI), which is not achieved by any other memristors and commercial flash memory techniques. The realization of an environmentally robust memristor from Cs₂AgBiBr₆ with a high memory performance will inspire further development of robust electronics using lead‐free double perovskites.     

Mixed Valence Perovskite Cs2Au2I6: A Potential Material for Thin‐Film Pb‐Free Photovoltaic Cells with Ultrahigh Efficiency

New light is shed on the previously known perovskite material, Cs₂Au₂I₆, as a potential active material for high‐efficiency thin‐film Pb‐free photovoltaic cells. First‐principles calculations demonstrate that Cs₂Au₂I₆ has an optimal band gap that is close to the Shockley–Queisser value. The band gap size is governed by intermediate band formation. Charge disproportionation on Au makes Cs₂Au₂I₆ a double‐perovskite material, although it is stoichiometrically a single perovskite. In contrast to most previously discussed double perovskites, Cs₂Au₂I₆ has a direct‐band‐gap feature, and optical simulation predicts that a very thin layer of active material is sufficient to achieve a high photoconversion efficiency using a polycrystalline film layer. The already confirmed synthesizability of this material, coupled with the state‐of‐the‐art multiscale simulations connecting from the material to the device, strongly suggests that Cs₂Au₂I₆ will serve as the active material in highly efficient, nontoxic, and thin‐film perovskite solar cells in the very near future.     

Rare‐Earth‐Element‐Ytterbium‐Substituted Lead‐Free Inorganic Perovskite Nanocrystals for Optoelectronic Applications

Lead‐(Pb‐) halide perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) are interesting nanomaterials due to their excellent optical properties, such as narrow‐band emission, high photoluminescence (PL) efficiency, and wide color gamut. However, these NCs have several critical problems, such as the high toxicity of Pb, its tendency to accumulate in the human body, and phase instability. Although Pb‐free metal (Bi, Sn, etc.) halide perovskite NCs have recently been reported as possible alternatives, they exhibit poor optical and electrical properties as well as abundant intrinsic defect sites. For the first time, the synthesis and optical characterization of cesium ytterbium triiodide (CsYbI₃) cubic perovskite NCs with highly uniform size distribution and high crystallinity using a simple hot‐injection method are reported. Strong excitation‐independent emission and high quantum yields for the prepared NCs are verified using photoluminescence measurements. Furthermore, these CsYbI₃ NCs exhibit potential for use in organic–inorganic hybrid photodetectors as a photoactive layer. The as‐prepared samples exhibit clear on–off switching behavior as well as high photoresponsivity (2.4 × 10³ A W^?1) and external quantum efficiency (EQE, 5.8 × 10⁵%) due to effective exciton dissociation and charge transport. These results suggest that CsYbI₃ NCs offer tremendous opportunities in electronic and optoelectronic applications, such as chemical sensors, light emitting diodes (LEDs), and energy conversion and storage devices.     

Theory‐Guided Synthesis of a Metastable Lead‐Free Piezoelectric Polymorph

Many technologically critical materials are metastable under ambient conditions, yet the understanding of how to rationally design and guide the synthesis of these materials is limited. This work presents an integrated approach that targets a metastable lead‐free piezoelectric polymorph of SrHfO₃. First‐principles calculations predict that the previous experimentally unrealized, metastable P4mm phase of SrHfO₃ should exhibit a direct piezoelectric response (d₃₃) of 36.9 pC N^?1 (compared to d₃₃ = 0 for the ground state). Combining computationally optimized substrate selection and synthesis conditions lead to the epitaxial stabilization of the polar P4mm phase of SrHfO₃ on SrTiO₃. The films are structurally consistent with the theory predictions. A ferroelectric‐induced large signal effective converse piezoelectric response of 5.2 pm V^?1 for a 35 nm film is observed, indicating the ability to predict and target multifunctionality. This illustrates a coupled theory‐experimental approach to the discovery and realization of new multifunctional polymorphs.     

Structural and Functional Diversity in Lead‐Free Halide Perovskite Materials

Lead halide perovskites have emerged as promising semiconducting materials for different applications owing to their superior optoelectronic properties. Although the community holds different views toward the toxic lead in these high‐performance perovskites, it is certainly preferred to replace lead with nontoxic, or at least less‐toxic, elements while maintaining the superior properties. Here, the design rules for lead‐free perovskite materials with structural dimensions from 3D to 0D are presented. Recent progress in lead‐free halide perovskites is reviewed, and the relationships between the structures and fundamental properties are summarized, including optical, electric, and magnetic‐related properties. 3D perovskites, especially A₂B⁺B³⁺X₆‐type double perovskites, demonstrate very promising optoelectronic prospects, while low‐dimensional perovskites show rich structural diversity, resulting in abundant properties for optical, electric, magnetic, and multifunctional applications. Furthermore, based on these structure–property relationships, strategies for multifunctional perovskite design are proposed. The challenges and future directions of lead‐free perovskite applications are also highlighted, with emphasis on materials development and device fabrication. The research on lead‐free halide perovskites at Linköping University has benefited from inspirational discussions with Prof. Olle Inganäs.     

Dopant‐Free Hole‐Transporting Materials for Stable and Efficient Perovskite Solar Cells

Molecularly engineered novel dopant‐free hole‐transporting materials for perovskite solar cells (PSCs) combined with mixed‐perovskite (FAPbI₃)_0.85(MAPbBr₃)_0.15 (MA: CH₃NH₃⁺, FA: NH=CHNH₃⁺) that exhibit an excellent power conversion efficiency of 18.9% under AM 1.5 conditions are investigated. The mobilities of FA‐CN, and TPA‐CN are determined to be 1.2 × 10^?4 cm² V^?1 s^?1 and 1.1 × 10^?4 cm² V^?1 s^?1, respectively. Exceptional stability up to 500 h is measured with the PSC based on FA‐CN. Additionally, it is found that the maximum power output collected after 1300 h remained 65% of its initial value. This opens up new avenue for efficient and stable PSCs exploring new materials as alternatives to Spiro‐OMeTAD.     

From Lead Halide Perovskites to Lead‐Free Metal Halide Perovskites and Perovskite Derivatives

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. The theoretical understanding explains well why Pb halide perovskites exhibit superior photovoltaic properties, but Pb‐free perovskites and perovskite derivatives do not.     

Molecule‐Induced p‐Doping in Perovskite Nanocrystals Enables Efficient Color‐Saturated Red Light‐Emitting Diodes

Color‐saturated red light‐emitting diodes (LEDs) with emission wavelengths at around 620–640 nm are an essential part of high‐definition displays. Metal halide perovskites with very narrow emission linewidth are promising emitters, and rapid progress has been made in perovskite‐based LEDs (PeLEDs); however, the efficiency of the current color—pure red PeLEDs—still far lags behind those of other‐colored ones. Here, a simple but efficient strategy is reported to gradually down‐shift the Fermi level of perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) by controlling the interaction between NCs and their surface molecular electron acceptor—benzyl iodide with aromatic rings—and realize p‐doping in the color‐saturated 625 nm emitting NCs, which significantly reduces the hole injection barrier in devices. Besides, both the luminescence efficiency and electric conductivity of perovskite NCs are enhanced as additional advantages as the result of surface defects passivation. As a result, the external quantum efficiency for the resulting LED is increased from 4.5% to 12.9% after benzyl iodide treatment, making this device the best‐performing color‐saturated red PeLED so far. It is further found that the hole injection plays a more critical role than the photoluminescence efficiency of perovskite emitter in determining the LED performance, which implies design principles for efficient thin‐film planar LEDs.