Toxicants like Pb in lead-based perovskite solar cells (PSCs) may become available to humans through leaching and transport through water, air, and soil. Here, we summarize the potential toxicity of different substances in PSCs and determine the leaching concentration of typical heavy metals used in PSCs through dynamic leaching tests (DLTs).
Assessing the toxicity of Pb- and Sn-based perovskite solar cells in model organism Danio rerio Intensive development of organometal halide perovskite solar cells has lead to a dramatic surge in power conversion efficiency up to 20%.
In China, the threshold for hazardous waste identification of Pb is 5 mg/L and the limit for primary drinking water is 0.005 mg/L. In addition, Pb-based perovskite solar cells have poor stability and easily deteriorate in the air.
This can be attributed to the challenges associated with upscaling PVSCs, improving device stability, and reducing the toxicity of PVSCs, which are hurdles in commercializing perovskite PV technologies. In particular, the toxicity due to lead leakage of PVSCs makes it difficult for them to enter the market.
Then, the toxicity of PVSCs is discussed, including the impacts of organic solvents and perovskite precursor materials on the health and environment. In this section, examples of advanced strategies for reducing the toxicity of PVSCs are also provided.
The toxicity of Sn from perovskites is rather complex compared to its Pb counterpart 7. Due to the low redox potential (–0.15V) of Sn (II)/Sn (IV) and the reducing character of Sn (II), rapid oxidation to more stable Sn (IV) occurs in ambient atmosphere.
Despite their outstanding performances, the presence of lead represents a severe concern for their future commercialisation, due to its toxicity and associated risks to human health and its environmental impact. Lead-free perovskites offer a …