Emanuele Smecca

Semitransparency is essential for applications in agrivoltaics and building-integrated photovoltaics. Here, semitransparent perovskite solar cells (PSC) are developed using high-vacuum sputtering deposition of advanced oxide layers. The bottom electrode is a Gig-Lox TiO2 multibranched sponge deposited on commercial c-TiO2/FTO by reactive sputtering. This sponge is then infiltrated with δ-CsPbI3, which remains mostly embedded into the TiO2 scaffold during the subsequent deposition steps. On top of this stack, a transparent 7 nm MoOx buffer layer is deposited at low power density in pure Ar from a MoO3 target, followed by the deposition of a 90 nm-thick ITO layer by reactive sputtering in Ar–O2. The resulting device can be described as an HTL-free-like architecture, where the ultrathin MoOx layer enables hole transfer into ITO via defect-assisted tunneling. The perovskite, initially in the nonphotoactive δ-phase, is converted into the photoactive γ-phase upon annealing the full FTO/c-TiO2/Gig-Lox TiO2/CsPbI3/MoOx/ITO stack at 350 °C. Full device annealing is enabled by the inorganic nature of the entire stack, and reannealing is also feasible at the same temperature for reuse. Simulations and experiments suggest that an interplay between the Gig-Lox TiO2 thickness and the MoOx interlayer modulates both transmittance and PSC efficiency by tuning the CsPbI3 Fermi level and the CsPbI3/MoOx interface dipole. The proposed reusable, fully sputtered semitransparent PSC architecture integrating CsPbI3 opens applicative perspectives in building-integrated photovoltaics and agrivoltaics.

Semi‐transparent perovskite solar cells offer a route to agrivoltaics, combining electricity generation with controlled light transmission for crop cultivation. However, conventional perovskite films preferentially absorb blue photons, producing redshifted transmitted spectra that can affect plant photophysiology. This work presents quasi‐neutral‐color semi‐transparent perovskite films based on AVA‐MAPbI ₃ islands rooted in mesoporous TiO ₂ (mp‐TiO ₂ ). This architecture localizes absorption within the islands while ensuring spectrally balanced, visually neutral transmitted light and efficient charge extraction via the extended perovskite/mp‐TiO ₂ interface. Films are fabricated through a one‐step, antisolvent‐free process where controlled de‐wetting and crystallization form islands anchored to the mp‐TiO ₂ scaffold. Island coverage and size are tuned via spin‐coating speed and annealing temperature. Using HTL‐free carbon‐based architecture as a testbed, perovskite coverage is identified as the main factor governing the transmittance‐efficiency trade‐off. Photocurrent scaling with coverage and conductive AFM measurements suggest that each island behaves as an independent photogeneration unit. Year‐long outdoor simulations at 37.3°N project that a device with an ideal transparent cathode can reach 4.50% efficiency and generate 116.38 kWh m ⁻² year ⁻¹ , sufficient to power energy‐intensive greenhouses. Lettuce grown under an LED‐simulated perovskite spectrum showed uncompromised biomass, pigments, leaf nitrogen‐carbon content, and carbon/nitrogen ratio, supporting perovskite island‐based photovoltaics for agrivoltaic applications.

We tailor the Low-Vacuum Proximity-Space Effusion (LV-PSE) method for high-rate, sequential two-step evaporation of MAPbI3 perovskite films. By combining ordered PbI2 growth with enhanced MAI intercalation, LV-PSE achieves a MAPbI3 growth rate of 23 nm/min, surpassing co-deposition benchmarks, while providing better control over each precursor deposition. A short source–substrate distance (2 cm) increases local vapor flux on the substrate and enables pressure (0.8–4 × 10−2 mbar) and temperature (15–100 °C) to control the rate for producing high-quality MAPbI3 films (100–520 nm) with broad applicability. Continuous, dynamic intercalation, inherent to the LV-PSE working scheme, helps overcome thickness limitations. Using molecular dynamics with machine-learned interatomic potentials, we observe early PbI2 lattice disaggregation during MAI intercalation (nanosecond scale) before crystallization. A proof of concept for the integration of the MAPbI3 film into a p–i–n device architecture on ITO/PTAA, using evaporated C60/BCP/Ag as the top electrode, has been provided. Compared with high-vacuum PVD, LV-PSE reduces system complexity, minimizes material use and waste, and lowers maintenance needs. The study of process–material relationships offers key insights into perovskite formation mechanisms, provides an application-oriented parameterization for perovskite fabrication using advanced sublimation–evaporation tools, and can foster further technological development.

In this study, we propose a novel approach where in an innovative porous grazing incidence atomic flux coupled with local oxidation (gig-lox) TiO₂ electron transport layer (ETL), deposited by sputtering, is integrated with a fully inorganic CsPbI₃:EuI₂ perovskite. This combination is used as a photoactive layer in semitransparent perovskite solar cells (ST-PSC). The solvent-free, scalable porous oxide sponge-like in structure, is produced via a grazing-incidence Ti flux that undergoes localized progressive oxidation. The sponge offers ≈50% volume porosity that is available for perovskite infiltration. The result of the oxide-perovskite integration is a double-layer struc made of a perovskite-filled sponge covered by a cap of pure perovskite. The material has unique optical properties and structure as attested by spectroscopic ellipsometry and X-ray diffraction analyses. The double-layer structure exhibits semitransparency, and its reduced photoluminescence (PL) intensity relative to that of a single perovskite layer indicates efficient charge carrier injection into the porous TiO₂. In perspective, the layer can be used in PSC as demonstrated by simulations.

Organic wastewater compounds (OWCs) employed in human activities are, nowadays, commonly detected in surface water, groundwater, and drinking water. In particular, pharmaceuticals have caused great concern because after their consumption, traces of metabolites are excreted and reach the water resources either directly or after inefficient treatment. Despite this, these compounds are not regulated in drinking water, and existing toxicity data are inadequate to assess potential risks from chronic low-dose exposure. Considering the necessity to find new efficient, reusable, and biocompatible systems to remove organic pollutants from wastewater, the adsorption process has been found to be the most effective and economical because it is simple, highly efficient, regenerative, and scalable and does not produce intermediates that can increase the toxicity of the parent contaminants. Prompted by these reasons, in this research, an adsorbed medium composed of graphene oxide and an amine-oxazoline-based polymer (poly­(2-(3-(amino)­propyl))-2-oxazoline) was synthesized and employed in several adsorption experiments targeting nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen (1), aspirin (2), ketoprofen (3), and benzoic acid (4). The specific interaction between acidic moieties of drugs and basic domains of the polymer has been investigated by targeting both acid compounds and pharmaceutical products free of carboxylic groups. Also, the influence of several parameters, including initial concentration, liquid-phase composition, pH, and reusability, has been investigated. Results show that the maximum adsorption capacity for ibuprofen (1), aspirin (2), ketoprofen (3), and benzoic acid (4) for experiments conducted in water, at the maximum initial concentration explored (90 mg L–1) and at natural pH equilibrium (pH ∼ 4), are, respectively, 37.4, 27.5, 43.5, and 26.0 mg g–1. These findings suggest that the prepared GO-pAmOx material has significant potential for adsorbing these drugs in water and good versatility for all investigated acid compounds and maintains high reusability. Notably, the reduction in adsorption capacity after ten adsorption cycles was only 1%.

Agrivoltaics, integrating photovoltaic systems with crop cultivation, demands semitransparent solar modules to mitigate soil shadowing. Perovskite Solar Cells (PSC) offer competitive efficiency, low fabrication costs, and high solar transmittance, making them suitable for agrivoltaic applications. However, the impact of PSC light filtering on plant growth and transcriptomics remains underexplored. This study investigates the viability and agronomic implications of the growth of radicchio seedlings (Cichorium intybus var. latifolium) in laboratory-scale greenhouses integrating Perovskites-coated rooftops. Eu-enriched CsPbI₃ layers are chosen to provide semi-transparency and phase stability while radicchio has limited size and grows in pots. Despite the reduced light exposure, radicchio seedlings exhibit faster growth and larger leaves than in the reference, benefiting from specific spectral filtering. RNA-sequencing reveals differential gene expression patterns reflecting adaptive responses to environmental changes. Simulations of full PSC integration demonstrate a positive energy balance in greenhouses to cover annual energy needs for lighting, irrigation, and air conditioning.

In this study, the optical behavior of lead‐free Bi‐based low‐dimensional perovskite single crystals (Cs₃Bi₂Cl₉, Cs₃Bi₂Br₉, Cs₃Bi₂I₉, and MA₃Bi₂I₉) is investigated by spectroscopic ellipsometry, supported by X‐ray diffraction and density functional theory calculations. All materials exhibit a strong excitonic peak resulting from photogenerated electron–hole Coulomb interactions, whereas the threshold of continuous absorption is found at higher energies. The resonances of the excitonic and continuous bands, along with exciton binding energies, are extracted through Critical Point Analysis of the ellipsometric data over a wide temperature range (from −90 °C to 90 °C), revealing subtle variations in the optical characteristics for each single crystal. These materials can be applied in optoelectronics as photodetectors because of their high stability and lower toxicity compared to their Pb‐based perovskites.