Halogen-containing semiconductors: From artificial photosynthesis to unconventional computing

• Published in: Coordination chemistry reviews 2020-07, Vol.415, p.213316, Article 213316
• Main Authors: Klejna, Sylwia, Mazur, Tomasz, Wlaźlak, Ewelina, Zawal, Piotr, Soo, Han Sen, Szaciłowski, Konrad
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Artificial photosynthesis; Memristors; Metal halide perovskites; Neuromimetic technologies; Photocatalysis; Photovoltaics; Semiconductors
• ISSN: 0010-8545; 1873-3840
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ccr.2020.213316

•Iodide-containing semiconductors are core materials in biomimetic research.•Artificial photosynthesis and unconventional computing require tailorable materials.•Perovskites are suitable for other energy-saving technologies. Unconventional computing and artificial photosynthesis seem to be completely unrelated fields of research. However, both technologies try to sustain the development of our civilization despite the flood of information and limited energy resources. In this review, we will show that the same materials – namely organic–inorganic metal halide perovskites and other iodine-based semiconductors – are materials of choice for both fields of scientific and technological activity. This contribution reviews the most up-to-date achievements in the fields of artificial photosynthesis and neuromimetic unconventional computing that utilize metal halide perovskites or other heavy metal-halogen compounds as active materials. Recent advances about photocatalysis and perovskite photovoltaics are also added to demonstrate the versatility of the applications that result from the peculiar geometric and electronic structures of iodine-based semiconductors.