Design, Synthesis, and Photocatalytic Application of Moisture-Stable Hybrid Lead-Free Perovskite

The employment of hybrid perovskite MAPbX3 (MA = CH3NH3+, X = Br or I) as photocatalysts in a photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction represents a promising approach to store solar energy. However, the toxicity of Pb makes these materials difficult to pass environmental evaluation while the intrinsic moisture sensitivity puts forward high anhydrous requirements in photocatalysts synthesis, storage, and application, which further reduces their service life. Herein, we demonstrate a hydrogen-bond-free strategy to synthesize moisture-stable hypotoxic hybrid perovskite for photocatalytic application by replacing traditional protonated countercations with alkylated countercations in a Pb-free hybrid system, which prevents water eroding hybrid perovskites via strong hydrogen bonds. A zero-dimensional Bi-based perovskite (3-ethylbenzo[d]thiazol-3-ium)4Bi2I10 (EtbtBi2I10) was synthesized, which contains dimeric (Bi2I10)4– formed by edge-sharing (BiI6) octahedra being different from the binuclear cluster in widely studied MA3Bi2I9. Theoretical calculations indicate that the electron communication between inorganic and organic moieties is responsible for its broadband absorption with a narrow band gap of 2.04 eV. EtbtBi2I10 exhibits excellent stability in distilled water, moisture air, acid solution, and UV-light irradiation. It shows effective photocatalytic performance in HI splitting to generate hydrogen with the performance comparable with MAPbI3. Introducing electron and hole-transporting channels drastically enhances the photocatalytic reaction.