Computational Modeling of Perovskite for Photovoltaics and Catalysis
Edoardo Mosconi a
a Computational Laboratory for Hybrid and Organic Photovoltaics - Istituto CNR di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche (SCITEC-CNR) c/o Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnologies, University of Perugia Via Elce di Sotto 8, 06123 Perugia, Italy
Proceedings of MATSUS Spring 2026 Conference (MATSUSSpring26)
A5 From halide perovskites to perovskite-inspired materials – Synthesis, Modelling and Application
Barcelona, Spain, 2026 March 23rd - 27th
Organizers: Gustavo de Miguel, Lorenzo Malavasi and Isabella Poli
Invited Speaker, Edoardo Mosconi, presentation 484
Publication date: 15th December 2025

Hybrid AMX3 perovskites (A=Cs, CH3NH3; M=Sn, Pb; X=halide) have in the last years revolutionized the scenario of photovoltaic technologies. Despite the extremely fast progress, the materials electronic properties which are key to the performance are relatively little understood. We developed an effective GW method incorporating spin-orbit coupling [1] which allows us to accurately model the electronic, optical and transport properties of halide perovskites, opening the way to new materials design. In parallel, a series of different strategies will be reported to increase the device stability and efficiency.[2] While instability in aqueous environment has long impeded employment of metal halide perovskites for heterogeneous photocatalysis, recent reports have shown that some particular tin halide perovskites (THPs) can be water-stable and active in photocatalytic hydrogen production. To unravel the mechanistic details underlying the photocatalytic activity of THPs, we compare the reactivity of the water-stable and active DMASnBr3 (DMA = dimethylammonium) perovskite against prototypical MASnI3 and MASnBr3 compounds (MA = methylammonium), employing advanced electronic–structure calculations. We find that the binding energy of electron polarons at the surface of THPs, driven by the conduction band energetics, is cardinal for photocatalytic hydrogen reduction.[3] In this framework, the interplay between the A-site cation and halogen is found to play a key role in defining the photoreactivity of the material by tuning the perovskite electronic energy levels. Our study, by elucidating the key steps of the reaction, may assist the development of more stable and efficient materials for photocatalytic hydrogen reduction. We report a report is made on a composite system including a double perovskite, Cs2AgBiCl6/g-C3N4, used in parallel for solar-driven hydrogen generation and nitrogen reduction, quantified by a rigorous analytical approach. [4] Finally, a new approach for enantioselective synthesis has been reported with chiral perovskite catalyst. The overall picture of our theoretical investigations underlines a crucial role of computational investigation, casting the possibility of performing predictive modeling simulations, in which the properties of a given system are simulated even before the materials laboratory synthesis and characterization. At the same time, computer simulations are shown to offer the required atomistic insight into hitherto inaccessible experimental observables.

E.M. acknowledges financial support under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), Mission 4, Component 2, Investment 1.1, Call for tender No. 104 published on 2.2.2022 by the Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR), funded by the European Union—NextGenerationEU—Project Title 2022HRZH7P—Re-evolutionary solar fuel production envisioning water stable lead-free perovskite exploitation—REVOLUTION—CUP B53D23015350006 - Grant Assignment Decree No. 1064 adopted on 18.7.2022 by the Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR).

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