Exploring the Effects of the Pb²⁺ Substitution in MAPbI₃ on the Photovoltaic Performance of the Hybrid Perovskite Solar Cells

Here we report a systematic study of the Pb2+ substitution in the hybrid iodoplumbate MAPbI3 with a series of elements affecting optoelectronic, structural, and morphological properties of the system. It has been shown that even partial replacement of lead with Cd2+, Zn2+, Fe2+, Ni2+, Co2+, In3+, Bi3+, Sn4+, and Ti4+ results in a significant deterioration of the photovoltaic characteristics. On the contrary, Hg-containing hybrid MAPb1-xHgxI3 salts demonstrated a considerably improved solar cell performance at optimal mercury loading. This result opens up additional dimension in the compositional engineering of the complex lead halides for designing novel photoactive materials with advanced optoelectronic and photovoltaic properties.