Eco-friendly water-synthesis of lead-free Cs2AgBiBr6 perovskites
The synthesis of lead-free Cs2AgBiBr6 perovskite is a huge challenge within the framework of the new emergent full-inorganic materials, with the aim of being employed as sensitive layers for a new generation of solar cells and/or optoelectronic devices.Here we report an innovative eco-friendly method for the preparation of Cs2AgBiBr6 perovskite, obtained both by “wet” and “dry” CsBr, AgBr, and BiBr3 precursor salts, in a fully hydro-solution liquid process, free of chemical solvents. Cs2AgBiBr6 powders and Cs2AgBiBr6 lead-free perovskite nanocrystal films have been realised and investigated for electronic, structural, and optical properties. X-ray diffraction revealed that powders and/or perovskite films obtained in a water bath belong to the cubic phase, symmetry group Fm-3m, as revealed by scanning electron microscopy as tetrahedral nanocrystal morphology. Energy gaps of about 2.10 and 2.60 eV are evidenced by synchrotron radiation valence band photoemission spectroscopy, photo-cathodo-luminescence, and optical measurements. Core levels x-ray photoemission and synchrotron radiation x-ray fluorescence spectroscopies give insights on Cs2AgBiBr6 perovskite formation in water-process solution. The synthesis of lead-free Cs₂AgBiBr₆ perovskite is crucial for advancing non-toxic full-inorganic materials for next-generation solar cells and optoelectronic devices. Here, the authors present an eco-friendly method using wet and dry precursor salts in a solvent-free hydro-solution process, achieving cubic-phase nanocrystals with promising electronic and optical properties.
Authors
- Aldo Di Carlo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6828-2380)
- Francisco M. C. da Silva (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7054-2265)
- Amanda Generosi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5940-389X)
- Paola De Padova (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5836-4884)
- C. Ottaviani (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9364-8591)
- Angelo De Paolis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0646-4311)
- Barbara Paci (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2854-7142)
- Sofia Caretto (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6488-4429)
- P. Prete (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4948-4718)
- H. Tolentino (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4025-8893)
- Luiz G. F. Borges (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0988-9665)
- Annalisa Paradiso (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-0416-343X)
- Osamu Kubo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1176-356X)
- Rodrigo Szostak (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1819-0266)
- N. Lovergine (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0190-4899)
- Flávio C. Vicentin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3763-4467)
- Túlio C. R. Rocha (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5770-8366)
- Bruno Olivieri (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3845-3721)
- Filippo Ruggiero
Institutions
- University of Salento (IT)
- Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate (IT)
- Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory (BR)
- Institute of Structure of Matter (IT)
- Institute of Sciences of Food Production (IT)
- Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati (IT)
- Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (BR)
- Institute for Microelectronics and Microsystems (IT)
- Gifu University (JP)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Communications Materials
- Published
- 2026-08-20
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s43246-026-01261-3
- Primary Topic
- Perovskite Materials and Applications
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação
- Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais
- HORIZON EUROPE Framework Programme
- Laboratório Nacional de Luz Síncrotron