High visible-light photocatalytic performance of stable lead-free Cs2AgBiBr6 double perovskite nanocrystals

Recent advances in metal halide perovskite based photocatalysts for artificial photosynthesis and organic transformations

Metal halide perovskites (MHP) emerged as highly promising materials for photocatalysis, offering significant advancements in the degradation of soluble and airborne pollutants, as well as the transformation of functional organic compounds. This comprehensive review focuses on recent developments in MHP-based photocatalysts, specifically examining two major categories: lead-based (such as CsPbBr3) and lead-free variants (e.g. Cs2AgBiX6, Cs3Bi2Br9 and others). While the review briefly discusses the contributions of MHPs to hydrogen (H2) production and carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction, the main emphasis is on the design principles that determine the effectiveness of perovskites in facilitating organic reactions and degrading hazardous chemicals through oxidative transformations. Furthermore, the review addresses the key factors that influence the catalytic efficiency of perovskites, including charge recombination, reaction mechanisms involving free radicals, hydroxyl ions, and other ions, as well as phase transformation and solvent compatibility. By offering a comprehensive overview, this review aims to serve as a guide for the design of MHP-based photocatalysis and shed light on the common challenges faced by the scientific community in the domain of organic transformations.

Structural Modification Strategies, Interfacial Charge-Carrier Dynamics, and Solar Energy Conversion Applications of Organic-Inorganic Halide Perovskite Photocatalysts

Over the past few decades, organic-inorganic halide perovskites (OIHPs) as novel photocatalyst materials have attracted intensive attention for an impressive variety of photocatalytic applications due to their excellent photophysical (chemical) properties. Regarding practical application and future commercialization, the air-water stability and photocatalytic performance of OIHPs need to be further improved. Accordingly, studying modification strategies and interfacial interaction mechanisms is crucial. In this review, the current progress in the development and photocatalytic fundamentals of OIHPs is summarized. Furthermore, the structural modification strategies of OIHPs, including dimensionality control, heterojunction design, encapsulation techniques, and so on for the enhancement of charge-carrier transfer and the enlargement of long-term stability, are elucidated. Subsequently, the interfacial mechanisms and charge-carrier dynamics of OIHPs during the photocatalytic process are systematically specified and classified via diverse photophysical and electrochemical characterization methods, such as time-resolved photoluminescence measurements, ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements, transient photocurrent densities, and so forth. Eventually, various photocatalytic applications of OIHPs, including hydrogen evolution, CO2 reduction, pollutant degradation, and photocatalytic conversion of organic matter.

Mapping Uncharted Lead-Free Halide Perovskites and Related Low-Dimensional Structures

Research on perovskites has grown exponentially in the past decade due to the potential of methyl ammonium lead iodide in photovoltaics. Although these devices have achieved remarkable and competitive power conversion efficiency, concerns have been raised regarding the toxicity of lead and its impact on scaling up the technology. Eliminating lead while conserving the performance of photovoltaic devices is a great challenge. To achieve this goal, the research has been expanded to thousands of compounds with similar or loosely related crystal structures and compositions. Some materials are "re-discovered", and some are yet unexplored, but predictions suggest that their potential applications may go beyond photovoltaics, for example, spintronics, photodetection, photocatalysis, and many other areas. This short review aims to present the classification, some current mapping strategies, and advances of lead-free halide double perovskites, their derivatives, lead-free perovskitoid, and low-dimensional related crystals.

Effects of electron transport layer type on the performance of Pb-free Cs2AgBiBr6 double perovskites: a SCAPS-1D solar simulator-based study

Recently, due to the superior stability and lower risk of toxicity, the development of Pb-free halide double perovskite materials has revived excellent interest. In this work, Pb-free perovskite solar cells (PSCs) with ITO/ETL/Cs2AgBiBr6/Cu2O/Au multilayer structures with Cs2AgBiBr6 double perovskite as the solar light absorber layer, some electron transport layers (ETLs) and Cu2O as a hole transport layer have been introduced. Then, the effects of various thicknesses of the absorber layer and also ETL materials, like ZnO, C60, CdS, SnO2, phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM), and TiO2, on the device performance (including photoelectronic conversion efficiency (PCE), fill factor (FF%), short circuit current density (Jsc), and open-circuit voltage (VOC)) were examined with the help of a solar cell simulator (SCAPS-1D). It is noteworthy that, in the case of all ETL materials, the optimal thickness of the absorber layer was determined to be 400 nm. Then, the maximum PCE values of 20.08%, 17.63%, 14.07%, 12.11%, 14.94%, and 18.83% were obtained for the solar cells containing ZnO, C60, CdS, SnO2, PCBM, and TiO2 as the ETL, respectively. These results show that designing/developing Pb-free halide double perovskite devices having comparable PCEs with the Pb-based PSCs is feasible, provided that proper/compatible materials will be used in the multilayer structure of the next generations of solar cells.

Fabricating a type II heterojunction by growing lead-free perovskite Cs2AgBiBr6in situ on graphite-like g-C3N4 nanosheets for enhanced photocatalytic CO2 reduction

Perovskite-based photocatalysts have received significant attention for converting CO2 into fuels, such as CO, CH4 or long alkyl chains. However, the use of these catalysts is plagued by several limitations, such as poor stability, lead toxicity, and inadequate conversion efficiency due to the rapid recombination of carriers. Herein, a g-C3N4@Cs2AgBiBr6 (CABB) type II heterojunction photocatalyst has been prepared by growing lead-free CABB nanocrystals (10-14 nm) on the graphite-like carbon nitride (g-C3N4) nanosheet using the in situ crystallization method. The resulting nanocomposite, g-C3N4@CABB, demonstrated an efficient charge transfer pathway via a typical type II heterojunction. With formation rates of 10.30 μmol g-1 h-1 for CO and 0.88 μmol g-1 h-1 for CH4 under visible light irradiation, the nanocomposite exhibited enhanced photocatalytic efficiency in CO2 reduction compared to CABB and g-C3N4. The improved photocatalytic performance of the g-C3N4@CABB nanocomposite was attributed to the fabricated type II heterojunction, which boosted the interfacial charge transfer from g-C3N4 to CABB. This work will inspire the design of heterojunction-based photocatalysts and increase the fundamental understanding of perovskite-based catalysts in the CO2 photoreduction process.

Lead-free double perovskite Cs2MBiCl6 (M = Ag, Cu): insights into the optical, dielectric, and charge transfer properties

Recently, double perovskites have shown excellent potential considering the instability and toxicity problems of lead halide perovskites in optoelectronic devices. Here, the double perovskites Cs₂MBiCl₆ (M = Ag, Cu) were successfully synthesized via the slow evaporation solution growth technique. The cubic phase of these double perovskite materials was verified through the X-ray diffraction pattern. The investigation of Cs₂CuBiCl₆ and Cs₂AgBiCl₆ utilizing optical analysis showed that their respective indirect band-gap values were 1.31 and 2.92 eV, respectively. These materials, which are double perovskites, were examined using the impedance spectroscopy technique within the 10^-1 to 10⁶ Hz frequency and 300-400 K temperature ranges. Jonncher's power law was utilized to describe AC conductivity. The outcomes of the study on charge transportation in Cs₂MBiCl₆ (where M = Ag, Cu) suggest that the non-overlapping small polaron tunneling mechanism was present in Cs₂CuBiCl₆, whereas the overlapping large polaron tunneling mechanism was present in Cs₂AgBiCl₆.

In situ growth of lead-free halide perovskites into SiO2 sub-microcapsules toward water-stable photocatalytic CO2 reduction

Halide perovskites (HPs) are highly susceptible to heat, light, or moisture and are easily decomposed even in an ambient environment, which greatly hinders their practical applications. Herein, an in situ growth strategy is presented for implanting an inorganic lead-free HP, Cs₂AgBiBr₆, into SiO₂ sub-microcapsules to form a Cs₂AgBiBr₆@SiO₂ yolk-shell composite. The SiO₂ sub-microcapsule endows Cs₂AgBiBr₆ with good thermal and light stability, as well as excellent corrosion resistance against polar solvents. Furthermore, when employed as a lead-free perovskite photocatalyst, the composite exhibits a higher visible-light-driven CO₂-to-CO rate (271.76 μmol g^-1 h^-1) and much better stability than Cs₂AgBiBr₆ in water. The formation of a Cs₂AgBiBr₆/SiO₂ heterostructure using an in situ growth method alleviates water binding on the perovskites, supported by density functional theory calculations, which is the key to an improvement in the stability of the composite. The in situ growth strategy developed here sheds light on the design and development of HP-based materials for applications involving polar solvents.

Recent developments in lead-free bismuth-based halide perovskite nanomaterials for heterogeneous photocatalysis under visible light

Halide perovskite materials, especially lead-based perovskites, have been widely used for optoelectronic and catalytic applications. However, the high toxicity of the lead element is a major concern that directs the research work toward lead-free halide perovskites, which could utilize bismuth as a promising candidate. Until now, the replacement of lead by bismuth in perovskites has been well studied by designing bismuth-based halide perovskite (BHP) nanomaterials with versatile physical-chemical properties, which are emerging in various application fields, especially heterogeneous photocatalysis. In this mini-review, we present a brief overview of recent progress in BHP nanomaterials for photocatalysis under visible light. The synthesis and physical-chemical properties of BHP nanomaterials have been comprehensively summarized, including zero-dimensional, two-dimensional nanostructures and hetero-architectures. Later, we introduce the photocatalytic applications of these novel BHP nanomaterials with visible-light response, improved charge separation/transport and unique catalytic sites. Due to advanced nano-morphologies, a well-designed electronic structure and an engineered surface chemical micro-environment, BHP nanomaterials demonstrate enhanced photocatalytic performance for hydrogen generation, CO₂ reduction, organic synthesis and pollutant removal. Finally, the challenges and future research directions of BHP nanomaterials for photocatalysis are discussed.

Efficient Charge Transfer and Effective Active Sites in Lead-Free Halide Double Perovskite S-Scheme Heterojunctions for Photocatalytic H2 Evolution

The practical application of lead-free double perovskite Cs₂ AgBiBr₆ in photocatalytic H₂ evolution is still restricted due to the low activity and poor stability. The rational design of lead-free halide double perovskites heterojunctions with efficient charge transfer and effective active sites is a potential route to achieve the ideal prospect. Herein, in this work an S-scheme heterojunction of Cs₂ AgBiBr₆ with enriched Br-vacancies and WO₃ nanorods (V_Br -Cs₂ AgBiBr₆ /WO₃ ) obtaining excellent visible-light responsive photocatalytic H₂ evolution performance and durable stability is reported. The S-scheme heterojunction driven by the unaligned Fermi levels of these two semiconductors ensures the efficient charge transfer at the interface, and density functional theory calculations reveal the enriched Br vacancies on Cs₂ AgBiBr₆ (022) surfaces introduced by atom thermal vibration provide effective active sites for hydrogen evolution. The optimized V_Br -Cs₂ AgBiBr₆ /WO₃ S-scheme photocatalyst exhibits the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution rate of 364.89 µmol g^-1 h^-1 which is 4.9-fold of bare V_Br -Cs₂ AgBiBr₆ (74.44 µmol g^-1 h^-1 ) and presents long-term stability of 12 h continuous photocatalytic reaction. This work provides deep insights into the photocatalytic mechanism of V_Br -Cs₂ AgBiBr₆ /WO₃ S-scheme heterojunctions, which emerges a new strategy in the applications of perovskite-based photocatalysts.

2D/2D Inorganic/Organic Hybrid of Lead-Free Cs2AgBiBr6 Double Perovskite/Covalent Triazine Frameworks with Boosted Charge Separation and Efficient CO2 Photoreduction

Heterojunction construction, especially the inorganic/organic hybrids, is regarded as a universal and effective strategy to achieve high-performance photocatalysts. Herein, a 2D/2D inorganic/organic hybrid photocatalyst was constructed by the electrostatic self-assembly of the lead-free double-perovskite of Cs₂AgBiBr₆ nanosheets (NSs) and covalent triazine framework (CTF) NSs. The resultant Cs₂AgBiBr₆/CTF-1 (CABB/CTF-1) hybrid possessed a large surface-to-surface contact area, ensuring intimate interfacial interaction and efficient charge transfer/separation. Meanwhile, the periodical pore structure of CTF-1 endowed the CABB/CTF-1 hybrid with enhanced CO₂ adsorption/activation capacity. Consequently, the 2D/2D CABB/CTF-1 hybrid exhibited a remarkable photocatalytic performance toward CO₂ reduction. Based on the band structure analysis and various characterization techniques, for example, X-ray photoelectron spectra and electron spin resonance, an S-scheme charge transfer mechanism was proposed. This study presents a new protocol for designing 2D/2D inorganic/organic hybrid photocatalytic systems, which hold great potentials in solar fuel applications.

Lead-free all-inorganic halide double perovskite materials for optoelectronic applications: progress, performance and design

The geometrical and electronic structures of all-inorganic halide double perovskites and their applications in optoelectronic devices are reviewed. Novel design methods are desirable to develop this type of perovskite with superior performance.

NiCoP modified lead-free double perovskite Cs2AgBiBr6 for efficient photocatalytic hydrogen generation

A NiCoP/Cs2AgBiBr6 composite was successfully synthesised via electrostatic coupling to achieve a hydrogen generation rate of 12.5%, which was ∼88 times higher than that of pure Cs2AgBiBr6.

Enhanced Memristive Performance of Double Perovskite Cs2 AgBiBr6-x Clx Devices by Chloride Doping

Mixed halide perovskites are promising memristive materials because of their excellent electronic-ionic properties. In this work, lead-free Cs₂ AgBiBr_6-x Cl_x (x=0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0) double perovskite films were fabricated using a one-step solution spin-coating method in air. Moreover, the ITO/Cs₂ AgBiBr_6-x Cl_x /Al sandwich-like devices are fabricated to investigate the memristive behaviors. The present memristors exhibit nonvolatile and bipolar resistive switching behaviors without electroforming process. Interestingly, as the chloride content increases, the ON/OFF ratio of the device increases from 10³ to 10⁴ , the average SET voltage and the RESET voltage decrease from -0.40 V to -0.21 V and from 1.55 V to 1.34 V, respectively. In addition, resistance states of devices can be maintained after 100 switching cycles and 10⁴  s of reading. This study provides new possibility for the development of low-power and environmentally friendly memristors.

Identifying and Passivating Killer Defects in Pb-Free Double Cs2AgBiBr6 Perovskite

Pb-free double perovskites, such as Cs₂AgBiBr₆, are alternatives to lead halide perovskites for photovoltaic applications due to superior stability, low toxicity, and promising optoelectronic properties. However, their performance is subpar. We combine nonadiabatic molecular dynamics and real-time time-dependent density-functional theory to show that the negatively charged Br vacancy in Cs₂AgBiBr₆ creates an extremely detrimental donor-yielded (DY) center, which is a typical defect in six-coordinated semiconductors. Ag⁺ and Bi³⁺ form a bond by attraction through the anisotropic vacancy charge, generating a midgap state that traps holes within tens of picoseconds. Substituting Ag with indium by doping produces a weak and long In-Bi bond, lifting the defect energy level to the conduction band. Hole trapping slows down by an order or magnitude, and trap-assisted charge recombination decreases 4-fold. The simulations bring atomistic insights into defects of Pb-free double perovskites and provide a defect mitigation strategy for rational design of high-performance optoelectronic devices.