Reducing Lead Iodide Leaching in Perovskite Solar Cells with a Chelating Bioplastic Layer

Perovskite solar cells have reached efficiencies ~10% more effective than their silicon counterparts. However, the methylammonium lead iodide compound in perovskite raises concerns regarding potential environmental lead leaching. This paper investigates a novel solution by testing a bioplastic layer bonded to natural chelators derived from kelp, cilantro, chlorella, and spirulina against the chemical chelator, tetrasodium EDTA, on a damaged perovskite solar cell’s production of lead. The layers’ efficacies were determined by testing if they affected the cell’s electrical output and measuring the quantity of lead they trapped. The spirulina chelator performed the best, reducing lead production by 95.31%. The next most efficient was cilantro by 90.64%, tetrasodium by 84.38%, kelp by 74.6%, and chlorella by 64%. Additionally, the paper investigates anti-reflective properties of corn and lotus leaf surface structures imprinted on the bioplastic layer which resulted in a 16.22% and 23.9% efficiency amelioration respectively.