Structural and Morphological Evaluation of Air-Processed Cs3Sb2I9 Perovskite Thin Film in Ambient Conditions

Pranta Barua; Kannoorpatti Krishnan; Naveen Kumar Elumalai

doi:10.3390/en19092196

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Structural and Morphological Evaluation of Air-Processed Cs3Sb2I9 Perovskite Thin Film in Ambient Conditions

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Structural and Morphological Evaluation of Air-Processed Cs3Sb2I9 Perovskite Thin Film in Ambient Conditions

Pranta Barua, Kannoorpatti Krishnan and Naveen Kumar Elumalai

Energies, Vol.19(9), pp.1-23

2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/en19092196

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Abstract

Cs3Sb2I9

lead-free perovskite

ISOS-D-1

degradation

ambient

phase stability

c-axis realignment

The ambient stability of ambient-processed lead-free perovskite absorbers remains a critical challenge toward scalable, eco-friendly photovoltaics. Herein, we systematically investigate the time-dependent structural and morphological evolution of drop-cast ambient-processed Cs3Sb2I9 thin films, being a potential non-toxic and stable solar absorber candidate (energy bandgap similar to 2 eV) for solar cells, stored under uncontrolled ambient condition (similar to 60% Relative humidity) for 28 days. Sequential X-ray diffraction (XRD) and surface morphology analyses using scanning electron microscope (SEM) reveal that the films preserve their trigonal P (3) over bar m1 phase throughout aging, confirming phase stability. Moderate moisture exposure may induce partial recrystallization and subtle structural reorganization, possibly including minor c-axis realignment, leading to reduced lattice strain and improved crystallite coherence. Even after prolonged aging, no secondary phases or micro-cracks are detected, underscoring the slow degradation kinetics and robust Sb-I bonding that stabilize the layered [Sb2I9](3-) dimers. The late-stage increase in diffraction intensity and partial recovery of crystallographic parameters could indicate transient structural reorganization, potentially associated with moisture-mediated reordering within an overall degradation pathway. These observations suggest some degree of morphological persistence and structural tolerance of Cs3Sb2I9 under ambient conditions, rather than complete stability. This behavior offers useful insights into ambient processing and the long-term reliability of lead-free perovskite photovoltaics.

Details

Title: Structural and Morphological Evaluation of Air-Processed Cs3Sb2I9 Perovskite Thin Film in Ambient Conditions
Authors: Pranta Barua (Corresponding Author) - Charles Darwin University
Kannoorpatti Krishnan - Charles Darwin University
Naveen Kumar Elumalai - University of the Sunshine Coast
Publication details: Energies, Vol.19(9), pp.1-23
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date published: 2026
DOI: 10.3390/en19092196
ISSN: 1996-1073
Copyright note: © 2026 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license.
Data Availability: The original contributions presented in this study are included in the article. Further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding authors.
Grants: Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship, RTP, Department of Education (Australia, Canberra)
Organisation Unit: School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Language: English
Record Identifier: 991239298902621
Output Type: Journal article

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