Tin-halide perovskites, a class of tin-based materials with a characteristic crystal structure that resembles that of the compound calcium titanate, could be promising alternatives to commonly used semiconductors. Past studies have explored the possibility of using these materials to fabricate p-channel thin-film transistors (TFTs), devices used to control and amplify the flow of charge carriers in electronics devices.

So far, however, the reliable fabrication and integration of thin-film perovskites into commercially available electronics has proved challenging. This is in part due to difficulties encountered when trying to produce uniform perovskite films with consistent electronic properties using scalable and industry-compatible methods.

Researchers at Pohang University of Science and Technology recently introduced a new promising strategy for the fabrication of highly performing TFTs based on tin-halide perovskites. Their approach, outlined in a paper published in Nature Electronics, relies on thermal evaporation and the use of lead chloride (PbCl₂) as a reaction initiator.