A tin-based perovskite solar cell is a special type of perovskite solar cell, based on a tin perovskite structure (ASnX3, where 'A' is a monovalent cation, tin is in its Sn (II) oxidation state and 'X' is a monovalenthalogenanion). As a technology, tin-based perovskite solar cells are still in the research phase, and are even less-studied than their counterpart, lead-based perovskite solar cells. The main advantages of tin-based perovskite solar cells are that they are lead-free. There are environmental concerns with using lead-based perovskite solar cells in large-scale applications;[1][2] one such concern is that since the material is soluble in water, and lead is highly toxic, any contamination from damaged solar cells could cause major health and environmental problems.[3][4]
The maximum solar cell efficiency reported and certified is 14.6% for a modified formamidinium tin triiodide-based (CH(NH2)2SnI3 or FAPbI3) composition with additional NH4SCN and PEABr content,[5] 5.73% for CH3NH3SnIBr2,[6] 3% for CsSnI3 (5.03% in quantum dots), and above 10% for various compositions based on formamidinium tin triiodide.[7][8] FAPbI3 in particular may hold promise because, applied as a thin film, it appears to have the potential to exceed the Shockley–Queisser limit by allowing hot-electron capture, which could considerably raise the efficiency.[9]
Methylammonium tin triiodide (CH3NH3SnI3 or MASnI3) has a band gap range of 1.2–1.3 eV, while FASnI3 has a band gap of approximately 1.4 eV.
^Espinosa, Nieves; Serrano-Luján, Lucía; Urbina, Antonio; Krebs, Frederik C. (June 2015). "Solution and vapour deposited lead perovskite solar cells: Ecotoxicity from a life cycle assessment perspective". Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells. 137: 303–310. Bibcode:2015SEMSC.137..303E. doi:10.1016/j.solmat.2015.02.013.
^Zhang, Jingyi; Gao, Xianfeng; Deng, Yelin; Li, Bingbing; Yuan, Chris (November 2015). "Life Cycle Assessment of Titania Perovskite Solar Cell Technology for Sustainable Design and Manufacturing". ChemSusChem. 8 (22): 3882–3891. Bibcode:2015ChSCh...8.3882Z. doi:10.1002/cssc.201500848. PMID26489525.