Antimony-Based Perovskites

Antimony halide perovskites are a potential alternative to lead-based perovskite semiconductors for photovoltaic applications to address the chemical stability and the toxicity issue. J. C. Hebig et al. developed solution-based fabrication and characterization of the lead-free perovskite-related methylammonium antimony iodide (CH₃NH₃)₃Sb₂I₉ compound. The thin films of Sb-perovskite as an absorber material for solar cells were tested in a planar heterojunction configuration using the two-step method with the toluene drop to obtain amorphous perovskite films. New strategies in materials design and bandgap engineering over a wide range by tuning the stoichiometry and compositions, for example, via anion alloying approach to form mixed halide-chalcogenide compounds, enable the development of a remarkable number of novel green lead-free absorber materials. Theoretical calculations predicting promising direct bandgaps and improved optical absorption properties within the visible range compared to lead-based analogs highlight the potential of lead-free perovskite semiconductors for photovoltaics.