Issue 10, 2024

A comparison of molecular iodine evolution on the chemistry of lead and tin perovskites

Abstract

The development of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) has gone from strength to strength over the last decade, enabling low-cost, flexible and high-efficiency photovoltaic devices. However, the significance of molecular iodine (I2) evolution within the perovskite layer on device longevity is only recently becoming realised. In lead-based perovskites, the formation of I2 is determinantal to both the photovoltaic performance of PSCs and the long-term stability. Likewise, I2 formation within tin perovskite is highly destructive; rapidly breaking down the composition of the perovskite layer, and severely limiting the shelf-life of photovoltaic devices. In both cases, the formation of I2 has a significant additional impact on the stability and function of all other elements of the PSC structure including the conductive metal oxide, metal electrode and charge transport layers (CTLs). In this perspective, we highlight the key role of iodine in dictating the performance and stability of lead and tin perovskite materials. In doing so we compare the similarities and differences between the formation mechanisms of molecular I2 in the lead and tin analogues while also considering its effect on the performance of PSCs through consideration of the various elements of the PSC structure. In discussing this challenge, we look to identify new emerging ways in which volatile iodine has been captured within other scientific fields and discuss the applicability, modification and utilisation of these strategies within PSCs. Finally, through consideration of the fundamental chemistry in these systems, we summarise the all-important role of iodine in PSCs, discuss efforts being made to mitigate the damage of I2 evolution, manage the redox chemistry, and provide design criteria for developing iodine-resilient PSCs.

Graphical abstract: A comparison of molecular iodine evolution on the chemistry of lead and tin perovskites

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
08 Sep 2023
Accepted
08 Apr 2024
First published
24 Apr 2024
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Energy Environ. Sci., 2024,17, 3244-3269

A comparison of molecular iodine evolution on the chemistry of lead and tin perovskites

T. Webb and S. A. Haque, Energy Environ. Sci., 2024, 17, 3244 DOI: 10.1039/D3EE03004K

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

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