Publication date: 22nd July 2026
The transition toward sustainable solar energy conversion requires the development of efficient, stable and non-toxic light-harvesting materials. Heavy-pnictogen-based semiconductors, particularly bismuth- and antimony-derived perovskite-inspired materials (PIMs), have emerged as promising alternatives to lead-based systems, combining defect-tolerant electronic structures with improved environmental compatibility and aqueous stability.1,2
In this contribution, we present a unified materials and device perspective on heavy-pnictogen derivatives for both photovoltaics and photoelectrochemistry. We focus on two complementary material classes: Ag–Bi chalcogenides (e.g., AgBiS₂) and Sb-based halide PIMs (e.g., Cs₃Sb₂I₉–xClₓ), processed via scalable techniques such as ultrasonic spray coating. These systems enable low-cost, air-compatible fabrication while maintaining strong optical absorption and tunable bandgaps across the visible and near-infrared spectrum.
Overall, we will show that this work establishes heavy-pnictogen derivatives as a versatile platform bridging photovoltaics and photoelectrochemistry, where control over disorder, dimensionality, transport and interfaces is key to unlocking their full potential for sustainable solar-to-chemical and solar-to-electrical energy conversion.
References:
1. F. Schmitz, T. Gatti et al. Heavy pnictogens-based perovskite-inspired materials: Sustainable light-harvesters for indoor photovoltaics APL Energy 1, 021502 (2023)
2. I. Poli, T. Gatti et al. Lead-free perovskites and derivatives for photogeneration: a roadmap to sustainable approaches for photovoltaics and photo(electro)catalysis J. Phys. Energy 8, 011501 (2026)
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