Publication date: 22nd July 2026
Lead toxicity in perovskite solar cells has driven researchers to explore alternative materials. Tin-based perovskites have emerged as one of the most promising candidates, achieving power conversion efficiencies of over 16%.(1) However, Dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), the most effective solvent for ink formation, promotes the oxidation of Sn2+ to Sn4+, compromising ink stability and device performance.
Therefore, developing a new solvent that provides strong coordination while maintaining a stable tin perovskite ink remains a major challenge. Here, we show a solvent-screening strategy for tin-based perovskite solar cell inks and to identify alternatives to DMSO-based systems that can improve ink stability, film formation, and resistance to tin oxidation. We found 3 solvents that can dissolve the perovskite precursors, many of them act as coordinating solvents that can replace DMSO.
The approach combines dispersion, polarity, and hydrogen-bonding characteristics, with Gutmann's donor number (DN) analysis to select solvent mixtures with suitable coordinating ability toward the FASnI3 precursors. A broad set of solvents was first filtered using HSPIP Software, followed by a first-principles-based estimation of donor numbers.to ensure effective precursor coordination. The most promising candidates were then examined experimentally for ink stability and perovskite film formation. Optical microscopy and SEM revealed improved morphology, including larger grains (over 490 nm) and thicker films (around 340 nm), while XRD confirmed enhanced crystallinity. These findings were further supported by PL and UV-Vis measurements, which indicated improved optical properties. This work introduces new solvents for lead-free perovskites and proposes a general screening strategy applicable to a wide range of perovskite materials.
Funding from SMARTLIN-PV Project from the Horizon Europe Framework Programme (HORIZON) under the grant agreement number 101122327 is acknowledged by authors.
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