Solution-processed all-inorganic bismuth-triiodide thin-films for photovoltaic application
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Abstract
Rapid improvement in the efficiency of lead halide perovskite solar cells has led to an
expansion in the interest of halide perovskite materials for optoelectronic devices. However,
concerns with toxicity and material instability pose serious challenges for the future
commercialization of lead halide perovskites solar cells. Thus, alternative materials that share
similar optoelectronic properties to lead halide perovskites are being explored. One material
that has the potential to replace lead halide perovskites is BiI3, which is nontoxic and shares a
similar electronic structure to lead halide perovskites. All-inorganic solution-processable BiI3
thin-film photovoltaic devices were developed as a proof-of-concept to demonstrate the
potential of BiI3 thin-films for photovoltaic application. Two-electron donor solvents such as
tetrahydrofuran and dimethylformamide were found to form adducts with BiI3, which made
BiI3 highly soluble in these solvents. BiI3 thin-films were deposited by spin coating. Solvent
annealing BiI3 thin films at relatively low temperatures (≤ 100 à  à °C) resulted in increased grain
size and crystallographic reorientation of grains within the films. The BiI3 films were stable
against oxidation for several months and could withstand several hours of annealing in air at
temperatures up to 150 à  à °C without degradation. Surface oxidation was found to improve
photovoltaic device performance due to the formation of a BiOI layer at the BiI3 surface
which facilitated hole extraction. BiI3 solar cells achieved highest power conversion
efficiencies of 1.0%, demonstrating the potential of BiI3 as a non-toxic, air-stable metal
halide absorber material for photovoltaic applications. This thesis serves to provide a study of
the material chemistry of BiI3, as well as opens avenues for other potential research projects
such as an extension of this work to other bismuth-based semiconductors, and the continued
development of BiI3 PV devices.