Events

The Ascendance of Halide Perovskites from Humble Salts to Extraordinary Semiconductors

How did a family of readily prepared crystalline salts become a leading platform for optoelectronic research and solar energy conversion? The story began with a modest objective: replacing the liquid electrolyte in dye-sensitized solar cells with a solid semiconductor. That effort helped reveal the extraordinary potential of halide perovskites as materials capable of absorbing light and transporting photogenerated charge in all-solid-state devices. What followed was a rapid convergence of exploratory synthesis, semiconductor physics, and device engineering that brought these once-overlooked compounds to the forefront of photovoltaics.

This presentation will trace that scientific journey, emphasizing the chemical discoveries and conceptual advances that made it possible. Central to the story are the unusual electronic properties of tin and lead halides, their long carrier lifetimes, and the structural versatility that allows composition and dimensionality to tune semiconductor behavior. The development of three-dimensional and layered two-dimensional perovskites opened a vast chemical space in which bandgap, light emission, charge transport, and stability could be systematically explored. Along the way, unexpected results challenged established assumptions about what makes a useful semiconductor. The continuing challenges of stability and chemical control will frame a broader discussion of how curiosity-driven chemistry can uncover technological possibilities far beyond its original goals.