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Title: Bismuth-Based Perovskite-Inspired Solar Cells: In Situ Diagnostics Reveal Similarities and Differences in the Film Formation of Bismuth- and Lead-Based Films

Journal Article · · Solar RRL
 [1];  [1];  [2];  [3];  [1];  [4];  [5];  [1]; ORCiD logo [6]
  1. King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal (Saudi Arabia)
  2. King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal (Saudi Arabia); Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB), (Germany). German Research Centre for Materials and Energy
  3. Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II)
  4. Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (United States)
  5. King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal (Saudi Arabia); Vidyasirimedhi Institute of Science and Technology (VISTEC), Rayong (Thailand)
  6. King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal (Saudi Arabia); North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh, NC (United States)

Organic–inorganic lead-based halide perovskite compounds currently yield thin film solar cells with a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of >23%. However, replacing the lead with less-toxic elements while maintaining a high PCE remains a challenge. For this reason, there has been significant effort to develop Pb-free compounds, including methylammonium bismuth iodide (MA3Bi2I9), but such systems severely underperform when compared with the prototypical Pb-based methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI3). For the latter, it is known that lead complexes with polar solvents, such as dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and dimethylformamide (DMF), to form iodoplumbates which can co-crystallize into solvated phases. Herein, the solidification and growth behaviors of Bi- and Pb-based films is investigated using multi-probe in situ characterization methods. It is shown that the Bi-based compound crystallizes directly and rapidly into a textured polycrystalline microstructure from a precursor solution without evolving through intermediate crystalline solvated phases, in contrast to MAPbI3. This solidification process produces isolated crystals and challenges the growth of continuous and crystalline films required for solar cells. Further, it is revealed that solvent engineering with antisolvent dripping is crucial to enable the formation of continuous polycrystalline films of MA3Bi2I9 and functional solar cells thereof.

Research Organization:
Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES); National Science Foundation (NSF)
DOE Contract Number:
SC0012704; DMR-1332208
OSTI ID:
1827154
Report Number(s):
BNL-222244-2021-JAAM
Journal Information:
Solar RRL, Vol. 3, Issue 7; ISSN 2367-198X
Publisher:
Wiley
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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