Tin-Based Solar Cells Replace Hazardous Lead

May-07-14 Researchers have found a way to replace the harmful lead in solar cells with tin, minimizing the use of hazardous materials while also lowering the cost of production.

Developed by a team from Northwestern University, the cell is the first of its kind to prove efficient when using lead as the light harvester. The cell features the same perovskite structure that had been previously made out of lead, and currently has an efficiency of just under 6 percent, which the team states is a "very good starting point." The material stands out in other ways besides its eco-friendliness: It can absorb most visible light and the perovskites salt can be dissolved and reformed without heating.

The team is confident the new material should be able to reach efficiency even greater than 15 percent (which is the standard for lead-based perovskites).

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