Climate change is one of the global challenges, which reached even the youngest of the society reflected by student movements like “Fridays-for-Future”. Innovative teaching is the key for involving these global challenges more effectively into the school curriculum. To convey the fundamental scientific and technical relationships behind terms like green-house gases, solar energy etc., new practical and digital learning methods should be developed.

Perovskite-based solar cells offer an innovative teaching content due to the outstanding properties like solution processability in contrast to classic, crystalline semiconductor materials such as silicon. Usually, perovskite solar cells are based on organic-inorganic lead halides such as CH3NH3PbI3 leading to concerns due to the toxic lead. However, the flexibility of the perovskite structure allows to replace lead with low toxic metals such as bismuth. We present a lead-free perovskite-inspired solar cell that can be manufactured under simple conditions and inexpensive equipment. These perovskite-inspired solar cells can be fabricated in school laboratories and thus widen the scope of solar absorber materials applicable in schools as an alternative to known absorber dyes. The do-it-yourself (DIY) approach broadens the school curriculum towards new and innovative technologies of new age.