Researchers examine DMSO-free tin halide perovskites for indoor photovoltaics

Researchers from HZB, University of Naples Federico II, Tampere University, CNR-ISM and Henan University recently explored the indoor photovoltaic performance of DMSO-free tin perovskites FASnI₃–xBrx by tuning the halide composition. 

They explained that indoor photovoltaic technology emerged as an effective strategy to sustainably power batteryless Internet of Things (IoT) devices, but while  tin perovskite solar cells offer competitive indoor PV performance, their effectiveness is often compromised by Sn²⁺ oxidation, particularly when processed with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solvent.

Notably, in this recent work, the team found that X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed no traces of Sn⁴⁺, highlighting the critical role of eliminating DMSO. 

Under 1000 lx indoor illumination, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) increased with Br content, reaching a maximum of 11.1% for FASnI₂Br without introducing any reducing agent. 

Remarkably, after six months of storage, it exhibited an impressive indoor PCE of 11.9%, demonstrating the effectiveness of the DMSO-free processing route for the intrinsic stability of the tin perovskite. 

These findings provide valuable insights for developing high-performance, lead-free perovskite materials for sustainable energy applications and IoT devices.