Metal halide perovskite toxicity effects on Arabidopsis thaliana plants are caused by iodide ions

Sustainability pathways for perovskite photovoltaics

Solar energy is the fastest-growing source of electricity generation globally. As deployment increases, photovoltaic (PV) panels need to be produced sustainably. Therefore, the resource utilization rate and the rate at which those resources become available in the environment must be in equilibrium while maintaining the well-being of people and nature. Metal halide perovskite (MHP) semiconductors could revolutionize PV technology due to high efficiency, readily available/accessible materials and low-cost production. Here we outline how MHP-PV panels could scale a sustainable supply chain while appreciably contributing to a global renewable energy transition. We evaluate the critical material concerns, embodied energy, carbon impacts and circular supply chain processes of MHP-PVs. The research community is in an influential position to prioritize research efforts in reliability, recycling and remanufacturing to make MHP-PVs one of the most sustainable energy sources on the market.

Synthesis of different organic ammonium-based bismuth iodide perovskites for photodetection application

Bismuth-based perovskites are promising candidates for highly stable halide perovskites with low toxicity. Here, we report the synthesis of a series of bismuth iodide-based perovskites with different primary, secondary, and tertiary ammonium cations and study their structural, thermal, and optical properties, and the likelihood of photodetection. Interestingly, the variation of A-site organic ammonium cations, with different interlayer spacings between adjacent bismuth iodide monolayers, has exotic effects on the diffraction patterns and morphological structures of the perovskite crystals. Thermogravimetric analysis reveals the highest thermal stability of tertiary ammonium-based bismuth perovskite with a decomposition temperature of 385 °C. The branched primary ammonium-based photodetector has photo-responsivity roughly two and four times faster than that of secondary and tertiary ammonium-based devices, respectively. These findings provide insight into the importance of A-site cation engineering for structural modulation and tailoring the optoelectronic properties of bismuth-based perovskites for emerging optoelectronic devices.

Mn(II)-Activated Zero-Dimensional Zinc(II)-Based Metal Halide Hybrids with Near-Unity Photoluminescence Quantum Yield

As derivatives of metal halide perovskite materials, low-dimensional metal halide materials have become important materials that have attracted much attention in recent years. As one branch, zinc-based metal halides have the potential for practical applications due to their lead-free, low-toxicity and high-stability characteristics. However, pure zinc-based metal halide materials are still limited by their poor optical properties and cannot achieve large-scale practical applications. Therefore, in this work, we report an organic-inorganic hybrid zero-dimensional zinc bromide, (TDMP)ZnBr4, using transition metal Mn2+ ions as dopants and incorporating them into the (TDMP)ZnBr4 lattice. The original non-emissive (TDMP)ZnBr4 exhibits bright green emission under the excitation of external UV light after the introduction of Mn2+ ions with a PL peak position located at 538 nm and a PLQY of up to 91.2%. Through the characterization of relevant photophysical properties and the results of theoretical calculations, we confirm that this green emission in Mn2+:(TDMP)ZnBr4 originates from the 4T1 → 6A1 optical transition process of Mn2+ ions in the lattice structure, and the near-unity PLQY benefits from highly localized electrons generated by the unique zero-dimensional structure of the host material (TDMP)ZnBr4. This work provides theoretical guidance and reference for expanding the family of zinc-based metal halide materials and improving and controlling their optical properties through ion doping.

Shedding light on the environmental impact of the decomposition of perovskite solar cell

Perovskite materials, as the heart of perovskite solar cells (PSC), attracted great interest in the photovoltaic community since the efficiency of PSC dramatically increased to over 25% in a short period. However, the presence of Pb metal in the perovskite crystalline limits the progress of this new generation of solar cells from environmental aspects. Here, we have systematically investigated the impact of the decomposition of perovskite material on the special plant, named Coleus. The influence of the decomposition of a perovskite solar cell (p-PbI2) has a three-fold lower destruction than commercial PbI2 (s-PbI2) in the same condition. The p-PbI2 made destroying the roots and leafs slower and smoother than s-PbI2, which the amount of water absorption with the plant's root from p-PbI2 is two-fold lower than s-PbI2. The atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) indicated that the amount of Pb in the first week is about 3.2 and 2.1 ppm for s-PbI2, and p-PbI2, respectively, which in following for two next weeks reached to about relatively close together and finally in the last week decreased to 1.8 ppm for s-PbI2 and increased to 2.4 ppm for p-PbI2. This paper opens new avenues and challenges about the actual scenario on the impact of perovskite materials in PSCs on the plant and live metabolisms.

Soil adsorption and transport of lead in the presence of perovskite solar cell-derived organic cations

Perovskite photovoltaics offer a highly efficient and low-cost solar energy harvesting technology. However, the presence of lead (Pb) cations in photovoltaic halide perovskite (HaPs) materials is concerning, and quantifying the environmental hazard of accidental Pb²⁺ leaching into the soil is crucial for assessing the sustainability of this technology. Pb²⁺ from inorganic salts was previously found to remain in the upper soil layers due to adsorption. However, Pb-HaPs contain additional organic and inorganic cations, and competitive cation adsorption may affect Pb²⁺ retention in soils. Therefore, we measured, analyzed by simulations and report the depths to which Pb²⁺ from HaPs penetrates into 3 types of agricultural soil. Most of the HaP-leached Pb²⁺ is found to be retained already in the first cm of the soil columns, and subsequent rain events do not induce Pb²⁺ penetration below the first few cm of soil surface. Surprisingly, organic co-cations from the dissolved HaP are found to enhance the Pb²⁺ adsorption capacity in clay-rich soil, compared to non-HaP-based Pb²⁺ sources. Our results imply that installation over soil types with improved Pb²⁺ adsorption, and removal of only the contaminated topsoil, are sufficient means to prevent ground water contamination by HaP-leached Pb²⁺.

Fate and Exposure Assessment of Pb Leachate from Hypothetical Breakage Events of Perovskite Photovoltaic Modules

Emerging lead halide perovskite (LHP) photovoltaics are undergoing intense research and development due to their outstanding efficiency and potential for low manufacturing costs that render them competitive with existing photovoltaic (PV) technologies. While today's efforts are focused on stability and scalability of LHPs, the toxicity of lead (Pb) remains a major challenge to their large-scale commercialization. Here, we present a screening-level, EPA-compliant model of fate and transport of Pb leachate in groundwater, soil, and air, following hypothetical catastrophic breakage of LHP PV modules in conceptual utility-scale sites. We estimated exposure point concentrations of Pb in each medium and found that most of the Pb is sequestered in soil. Exposure point concentrations of Pb from the perovskite film fell well below EPA maximum permissible limits in groundwater and air even upon catastrophic release from PV modules at large scales. Background Pb levels in soil can influence soil regulatory compliance, but the highest observed concentrations of perovskite-derived Pb would not exceed EPA limits under our assumptions. Nonetheless, regulatory limits are not definitive thresholds of safety, and the potential for increased bioavailability of perovskite-derived Pb may warrant additional toxicity assessment to further characterize public health risks.

Environmental impact of metal halide perovskite solar cells and potential mitigation strategies: A critical review

Metal halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have gained extensive attention in the field of solar photovoltaic technology over the past few years. Despite being a remarkable alternative to fossil fuels, solar cells may have detrimental effects on the environment and human health owing to the use of toxic materials during manufacturing. Although modern metal-halide-based PSCs are stable and have encapsulation to prevent the release of potentially toxic materials into the environment, their destruction due to strong winds, hail, snow, landslides, fires, or waste disposal can result in the exposure of these materials to the environment. This may lead to the contamination of soil and groundwater, and uptake of potentially toxic elements by plants, subsequently affecting humans and other living organisms via food chain contamination. Despite worldwide concern, the environmental and ecotoxicological impacts of metal-halide-based PSCs have not been comprehensively surveyed. This review summarizes and critically evaluates the current status of metal-halide-based PSC production and its impact on environmental sustainability, food security, and human health. Furthermore, safe handling and disposal methods for the waste generated from metal-halide-based PSCs are proposed, with a focus on recycling and reuse. Although some studies have suggested that the amount of lead released from metal halide PSCs is far below the maximum permissible levels in most soils, a clear conclusion cannot be reached until real contamination scenarios are assessed under field conditions. Precautions must be taken to minimize environmental contamination throughout the lifecycle of PSCs until nontoxic and similarly performing alternative solar photovoltaic products are developed.

Halide Chemistry in Tin Perovskite Optoelectronics: Bottlenecks and Opportunities

Tin halide perovskites (Sn HaPs) are the top lead-free choice for perovskite optoelectronics, but the oxidation of perovskite Sn2+ to Sn4+ remains a key challenge. However, the role of inconspicuous chemical processes remains underexplored. Specifically, the halide component in Sn HaPs (typically iodide) has been shown to play a key role in dictating device performance and stability due to its high reactivity. Here we describe the impact of native halide chemistry on Sn HaPs. Specifically, molecular halogen formation in Sn HaPs and its influence on degradation is reviewed, emphasising the benefits of iodide substitution for improving stability. Next, the ecological impact of halide products of Sn HaP degradation and its mitigation are considered. The development of visible Sn HaP emitters via halide tuning is also summarised. Lastly, halide defect management and interfacial engineering for Sn HaP devices are discussed. These insights will inspire efficient and robust Sn HaP optoelectronics.

Thin SnxNiyOz Films as p-Type Transparent Conducting Oxide and Their Application in Light-Emitting Diodes

The development of good-quality p-type transparent conducting oxides (TCOs) is essential to realize the full potential of TCOs for transparent electronics. This study investigates various optical and electrical properties of Sn_xNi_yO_z under different deposition conditions to achieve high-performance p-type TCOs. We found that a film with 20% O₂/Ar deposited at room temperature exhibits the highest p-type conductivity with a carrier concentration of 2.04 × 10¹⁷ cm^-3, a resistivity of 14.01 Ωcm, and a Hall mobility of 7.7 cm² V^-1 S^-1. We also studied the elemental properties of a Sn_xNi_yO_z film and the band alignment at the Sn_xNi_yO_z/InP interface and found reasonably large values of the conduction band offset (CBO) and valence band offset (VBO). Finally, we demonstrate stable light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with n-InP nanowires (NWs) conformably coated with a p-Sn_xNi_yO_z structure. Several films and devices were fabricated and tested over a span of 6 months, and we observed similar characteristics. This confirms the stability and reliability of the films as well as the reproducibility of the LEDs. We also investigated the temperature-dependent behavior of these LEDs and observed an additional peak due to a zinc blende/wurtzite (ZB/WZ) transition at the InP substrate and NW interface at ∼98 K and below. This study provides promising results of Sn_xNi_yO_z as a potential p-type TCO candidate for applications in electronics and optoelectronics.

Phonon-Mediated Slow Hot Carrier Dynamics in Lead-Free Cs3Bi2I9 Perovskite Single Crystal

In this report, we study the hot carrier cooling mechanism of the Cs3Bi2I9 single crystal by using femtosecond transient reflectance (fs-TR) spectroscopy. We find an unusual slow hot carrier cooling associated with longitudinal optical (LO) and coherent longitudinal acoustic phonons (CLAPs) emission during the deexcitation of the hot carriers. We posit the interplay between the hot-carriers and the LO and CLA phonons in subpicosecond to subnanosecond time scales, respectively, by analyzing the TR kinetics upon perturbation with excess energy. Furthermore, we measured the CLAPs propagation velocity in Cs3Bi2I9, the crystal, ranging from 1820 to 2000 ms-1. The elastic constants and frequency of Brillouin oscillations were estimated as 20.08 GPa and 14.66 GHz, respectively. Our discovery delivers new physical insights into how the hot carriers in Cs3Bi2I9 single crystal are coupled with a crystal lattice that controls the hot carrier dynamics.