Researchers design a water-stable lead-free perovskite for photocatalysis

Researchers at the University of Pavia in Italy, along with scientists from CNR-SCITEC, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, University of Perugia, Swansea University, and University of Bari, have reported water-stable lead-free perovskite for photocatalysis.

The evidence of water stability in a lead-free metal halide perovskite, namely DMASnBr₃, was obtained by means of diffraction, optical and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

The water-stability has been applied to promote photocatalysis in aqueous medium, in particular by devising a novel composite material by coupling DMASnBr₃ to g-C₃N₄, taking advantage of the combination of their optimal photophysical properties.

The prepared composites provided an impressive hydrogen evolution rate > 1700 mmol g^-1h^-1 generated by the synergistic activity of the two composite costituents.

DFT calculations provided insight into this enhancement deriving it from the favorable alignment of interfacial energy levels of DMASnBr₃ and g-C₃N₄.

The demonstration of an efficient photocatalytic activity for a composite based on lead-free metal halide perovskite in water could pave the way towards a new class of light-driven catalysts working in aqueous environments.