Conduction Band Tuning by Controlled Alloying of Fe into Cs<sub>2</sub>AgBiBr<sub>6</sub> Double Perovskite Powders
Huygen J. Jöbsis, Kostas Fykouras, Joost W. C. Reinders, Jacco van Katwijk, Joren M. Dorresteijn, Tjom Arens, Ina Vollmer, Loreta A. Muscarella, Linn Leppert, Eline M. Hutter
Abstract
Abstract Halide double perovskite semiconductors such as Cs 2 AgBiBr 6 are widely investigated as a more stable, less toxic alternative to lead‐halide perovskites in light conversion applications including photovoltaics and photoredox catalysis. However, the relatively large and indirect bandgap of Cs 2 AgBiBr 6 limits efficient sunlight absorption. Here, it is shown that controlled replacement of Bi 3+ with Fe 3+ via mechanochemical synthesis results in a remarkable tunable absorption onset between 2.1 and ≈1 eV. First‐principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations suggest that this bandgap reduction originates primarily from a lowering of the conduction band upon the introduction of Fe 3+ , and predict a direct bandgap when >50% of Bi 3+ is replaced with Fe 3+ . The tunability of the conduction band energy is found and reflected in the photoredox activity of these semiconductors. These findings open new avenues for enhancing the sunlight absorption of double perovskite semiconductors and for harnessing their full potential in sustainable energy applications.