Alleviating perovskite toxicity and inhibition of lead leakage for sustainable perovskite solar cells

Abstract

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have developed rapidly in recent years in terms of efficiency and stability, and have become comparable to silicon solar cells. However, the toxicity of lead ions (Pb²⁺) in perovskites is an important factor hindering the commercialization process. While existing strategies such as physical encapsulation and chemical adsorption can effectively mitigate lead leakage, they remain insufficient to completely prevent it when devices are exposed to external stressors. Free Pb²⁺ can cause serious harm to living organisms, such as blood lead poisoning and even organ failure. This study reports a strategy to suppress lead leakage using the natural plant molecule Rutin. Most importantly, lead-Rutin chelates minimize biological and environmental hazards. In addition, this strategy further improves device performance, enabling air-fabricated CsPbI₂Br PSC with a champion efficiency (PCE) of 15.10% and excellent long-term stability.