Publication date: 15th May 2026
Harvesting energy from ambient indoor light poses materials and device challenges that differ fundamentally from those encountered in outdoor photovoltaics. Low illumination intensities, narrow spectral distributions, and long‑term operational stability under constant low‑flux conditions require semiconductors and devices specifically engineered for the indoor regime. In this talk, I discuss recent progress in lead‑free metal halide and perovskite‑inspired semiconductors, with particular emphasis on pnictogen‑based materials, as a promising platform for indoor light harvesting.
Drawing on recent work, I will show how materials engineering, encompassing composition selection, defect chemistry, and structure–property relationships, governs charge generation and transport under low‑intensity indoor illumination. These studies reveal that lead‑free metal halide systems can combine favourable optoelectronic response with improved environmental compatibility compared to lead‑based halide perovskites, while exhibiting distinct recombination and carrier‑localisation phenomena that become critical in the indoor operating regime.
Beyond materials optimisation, the talk addresses device‑ and interface‑level effects on voltage output, reproducibility, and operational reliability at low photon flux. A central message of this talk is that reliable indoor photovoltaics can be achieved through appropriate engineering across materials, devices, and interfaces, highlighting how the indoor photovoltaic regime reshapes the performance–sustainability trade‑off and enables lead‑free perovskite‑inspired materials to become relevant candidates for indoor light harvesting.
Together, these results establish a fundamental framework for designing indoor photovoltaic devices that are both efficient and reliable under realistic conditions. The insights discussed provide a robust scientific foundation for sustainable indoor light harvesting and outline the key challenges that remain in bridging laboratory‑scale devices with practical energy‑autonomous technologies.
P.V. thanks Research Council of Finland, Decision No. 347772, for funding. This work is part of the Research Council of Finland Flagship Programme, Photonics Research, and Innovation (PREIN), Decision No. 320165.
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