Recent advances in BaZrS3 perovskites: Synthesis, properties, and future trends

Perovskite materials, with their unique photovoltaic properties, have become the fundamental building blocks of photovoltaic and solar cell technology, making them an attractive option to reduce carbon emissions and the use of fossil fuels. Due to their exceptional performance and ease of solution processing, lead-based perovskites have become the primary materials in photovoltaics in the current hunt for inexpensive and ecologically friendly energy production methods. Unfortunately, their expansion and mass commercialization are severely hindered by lead toxicity. Therefore, lead-free perovskites are regarded as a blessing for the evolution of photovoltaic technology in order to satisfy the undeniable demand for energy. In this context, chalcogenide perovskites have just recently come to the attention of researchers as extremely reliable, earth-abundant, as well as nontoxic alternatives for a variety of energy conversion applications, not just photovoltaics. Chalcogenide perovskites are excellent alternatives for resolving difficult problems associated with halide perovskites, including their instability in the influence of moisture and the existence of the harmful element lead. Among the chalcogenide perovskites, BaZrS3, a ternary compound, has emerged as an appealing alternative for photovoltaic applications because it crystallizes in a perovskite-kind structure. It is a new class of photovoltaic semiconductors having a specific gap value that significantly affects the efficiency of photovoltaic cells. In this work, various synthesis methods regarding BaZrS3 were discussed. The highly remarkable properties of BaZrS3 are also presented, which provides stronger evidence for future research into BaZrS3. Current challenges and future trends in the field of chalcogenide perovskites were also discussed.