Collective Molecular Mechanisms in the CH3NH3PbI3 Dissolution by Liquid Water

The origin of the dissolution of methylammonium lead trihalide (MAPI) crystals in liquid water is clarified by finite-temperature molecular dynamics by developing a MYP-based force field (MYP1) for water-MAPI systems. A thermally activated process is found with an energy barrier of 0.36 eV consisting of a layer-by-layer degradation with generation of inorganic PbI₂ films and solvation of MA and I ions. We rationalize the effect of water on MAPI by identifying a transition from a reversible absorption and diffusion in the presence of vapor to the irreversible destruction of the crystal lattice in liquid due to a cooperative action of water molecules. A strong water-MAPI interaction is found with a binding energy of 0.41 eV/H₂O and wetting energy of 0.23 N/m. The water vapor absorption is energetically favored (0.29 eV/H₂O), and the infiltrated molecules can migrate within the crystal with a diffusion coefficient D = 1.7 × 10^-8 cm²/s and activation energy of 0.28 eV.

High Stability Bilayered Perovskites through Crystallization Driven Self-Assembly

In this manuscript we reveal the formation of bilayered hybrid perovskites of a new lower dimensional perovskite family, (CHMA)₂(MA)_n-1Pb_nI₃ with n = 1-5, with high ambient stability via its crystallization driven self-assembly process. The spun-coated perovskite solution tends to crystallize and undergo phase separation during annealing, resulting in the formation of 2D/3D bilayered hybrid perovskites. Remarkably, this 2D/3D hybrid perovskites possess striking moisture resistance and displays high ambient stability up to 65 days. The bilayered approach in combining 3D and 2D perovskites could lead to a new era of perovskite research for high-efficiency photovoltaics with outstanding stability, with the 3D perovskite providing excellent electronic properties while the 2D perovskite endows it moisture stability.

Orientation Control of Two-Dimensional Perovskites by Incorporating Carboxylic Acid Moieties

Two-dimensional perovskite compounds, (RNH3)2PbX4, have attracted much attention as quantum confinement materials. To achieve suitable orientation and exciton properties for optical applications, carboxy groups were introduced into the ammonium cations of two-dimensional perovskite compounds, which formed dimer structures based on the hydrogen bonding by the carboxy moieties. This structural organization allowed control of the layer orientation for favorable solar cells and thermal stability of the perovskites, while maintaining quantum confinement effects.

Self-Functionalization Behind a Solution-Processed NiOx Film Used As Hole Transporting Layer for Efficient Perovskite Solar Cells

Fabrication of solution-processed perovskite solar cells (PSCs) requires the deposition of high quality films from precursor inks. Frequently, buffer layers of PSCs are formed from dispersions of metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs). Therefore, the development of trustable methods for the preparation of stable colloidal NPs dispersions is crucial. In this work, a novel approach to form very compact semiconducting buffer layers with suitable optoelectronic properties is presented through a self-functionalization process of the nanocrystalline particles by their own amorphous phase and without adding any other inorganic or organic functionalization component or surfactant. Such interconnecting amorphous phase composed by residual nitrate, hydroxide, and sodium ions, proved to be fundamental to reach stable colloidal dispersions and contribute to assemble the separate crystalline nickel oxide NPs in the final film, resulting in a very homogeneous and compact layer. A proposed mechanism behind the great stabilization of the nanoparticles is exposed. At the end, the self-functionalized nickel oxide layer exhibited high optoelectronic properties enabling perovskite p-i-n solar cells as efficient as 16.6% demonstrating the pertinence of the presented strategy to obtain high quality buffer layers processed in solution at room temperature.

LowDimensional Halide Perovskites and Their Advanced Optoelectronic Applications

Metal halide perovskites are crystalline materials originally developed out of scientific curiosity. They have shown great potential as active materials in optoelectronic applications. In the last 6 years, their certified photovoltaic efficiencies have reached 22.1%. Compared to bulk halide perovskites, low-dimensional ones exhibited novel physical properties. The photoluminescence quantum yields of perovskite quantum dots are close to 100%. The external quantum efficiencies and current efficiencies of perovskite quantum dot light-emitting diodes have reached 8% and 43 cd A-1, respectively, and their nanowire lasers show ultralow-threshold room-temperature lasing with emission tunability and ease of synthesis. Perovskite nanowire photodetectors reached a responsivity of 10 A W-1 and a specific normalized detectivity of the order of 1012 Jones. Different from most reported reviews focusing on photovoltaic applications, we summarize the rapid progress in the study of low-dimensional perovskite materials, as well as their promising applications in optoelectronic devices. In particular, we review the wide tunability of fabrication methods and the state-of-the-art research outputs of low-dimensional perovskite optoelectronic devices. Finally, the anticipated challenges and potential for this exciting research are proposed.

Methoxydiphenylamine-substituted fluorene derivatives as hole transporting materials: role of molecular interaction on device photovoltaic performance

The molecular structure of the hole transporting material (HTM) play an important role in hole extraction in a perovskite solar cells. It has a significant influence on the molecular planarity, energy level, and charge transport properties. Understanding the relationship between the chemical structure of the HTM's and perovskite solar cells (PSCs) performance is crucial for the continued development of the efficient organic charge transporting materials. Using molecular engineering approach we have constructed a series of the hole transporting materials with strategically placed aliphatic substituents to investigate the relationship between the chemical structure of the HTMs and the photovoltaic performance. PSCs employing the investigated HTMs demonstrate power conversion efficiency values in the range of 9% to 16.8% highlighting the importance of the optimal molecular structure. An inappropriately placed side group could compromise the device performance. Due to the ease of synthesis and moieties employed in its construction, it offers a wide range of possible structural modifications. This class of molecules has a great potential for structural optimization in order to realize simple and efficient small molecule based HTMs for perovskite solar cells application.

Progress on lead-free metal halide perovskites for photovoltaic applications: a review

ABSTRACT

Metal halide perovskites have revolutionized the field of solution-processable photovoltaics. Within just a few years, the power conversion efficiencies of perovskite-based solar cells have been improved significantly to over 20%, which makes them now already comparably efficient to silicon-based photovoltaics. This breakthrough in solution-based photovoltaics, however, has the drawback that these high efficiencies can only be obtained with lead-based perovskites and this will arguably be a substantial hurdle for various applications of perovskite-based photovoltaics and their acceptance in society, even though the amounts of lead in the solar cells are low. This fact opened up a new research field on lead-free metal halide perovskites, which is currently remarkably vivid. We took this as incentive to review this emerging research field and discuss possible alternative elements to replace lead in metal halide perovskites and the properties of the corresponding perovskite materials based on recent theoretical and experimental studies. Up to now, tin-based perovskites turned out to be most promising in terms of power conversion efficiency; however, also the toxicity of these tin-based perovskites is argued. In the focus of the research community are other elements as well including germanium, copper, antimony, or bismuth, and the corresponding perovskite compounds are already showing promising properties.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

First-Principles Study of Novel Two-Dimensional (C4H9NH3)2PbX4 Perovskites for Solar Cell Absorbers

Low-dimensional perovskites (A₂BX₄), in which the A cations are replaced by different organic cations, may be used for photovoltaic applications. In this contribution, we systematically study the two-dimensional (2D) (C₄H₉NH₃)₂PbX₄ (X═Cl, Br and I) hybrid perovskites by density functional theory (DFT). A clear structures-properties relationship, with the photophysical characteristics directly related to the dimensionality and material compositions, was established. The strong s-p antibonding couplings in both bulk and monolayer (C₄H₉NH₃)₂PbI₄ lead to low effective masses for both holes (m_h*) and electrons (m_e*). However, m_h* increases in proportion to the decreasing inorganic layer thickness, which eventually leads to a slightly shifted band edge emission found in 2D perovskites. Notably, the 2D (C₄H₉NH₃)₂PbX₄ perovskites exhibit strong optical transitions in the visible light spectrum, and the optical absorption tunings can be achieved by varying the compositions and the layer thicknesses. Such work paves an important way to uncover the structures-properties relationship in 2D perovskites.

2D/3D perovskite hybrids as moisture-tolerant and efficient light absorbers for solar cells

The lifetime and power conversion efficiency are the key issues for the commercialization of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). In this paper, the development of 2D/3D perovskite hybrids (CA₂PbI₄/MAPbI_xCl_3-x) was firstly demonstrated to be a reliable method to combine their advantages, and provided a new concept for achieving both stable and efficient PSCs through the hybridization of perovskites. 2D/3D perovskite hybrids afforded significantly-improved moisture stability of films and devices without encapsulation in a high humidity of 63 ± 5%, as compared with the 3D perovskite (MAPbI_xCl_3-x). The 2D/3D perovskite-hybrid film did not undergo any degradation after 40 days, while the 3D perovskite decomposed completely under the same conditions after 8 days. The 2D/3D perovskite-hybrid device maintained 54% of the original efficiency after 220 hours, whereas the 3D perovskite device lost all the efficiency within only 50 hours. Moreover, the 2D/3D perovskite hybrid achieved comparable device performances (PCE: 13.86%) to the 3D perovskite (PCE: 13.12%) after the optimization of device fabrication conditions.

Direct Observation of Electron-Phonon Coupling and Slow Vibrational Relaxation in Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Perovskites

Quantum and dielectric confinement effects in Ruddlesden-Popper 2D hybrid perovskites create excitons with a binding energy exceeding 150 meV. We exploit the large exciton binding energy to study exciton and carrier dynamics as well as electron-phonon coupling (EPC) in hybrid perovskites using absorption and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopies. At temperatures <75 K, we resolve splitting of the excitonic absorption and PL into multiple regularly spaced resonances every 40-46 meV, consistent with EPC to phonons located on the organic cation. We also resolve resonances with a 14 meV spacing, in accord with coupling to phonons with mixed organic and inorganic character. These assignments are supported by density-functional theory calculations. Hot exciton PL and time-resolved PL measurements show that vibrational relaxation occurs on a picosecond time scale competitive with that for PL. At temperatures >75 K, excitonic absorption and PL exhibit homogeneous broadening. While absorption remains homogeneous, PL becomes inhomogeneous at temperatures <75K, which we speculate is caused by the formation and subsequent dynamics of a polaronic exciton.

Hydrogen Bonding and Stability of Hybrid Organic-Inorganic Perovskites

In the past few years, the efficiency of solar cells based on hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites has exceeded the level needed for commercialization. However, existing perovskites solar cells (PSCs) suffer from several intrinsic instabilities, which prevent them from reaching industrial maturity, and stabilizing PSCs has become a critically important problem. Here we propose to stabilize PSCs chemically by strengthening the interactions between the organic cation and inorganic anion of the perovskite framework. In particular, we show that replacing the methylammonium cation with alternative protonated cations allows an increase in the stability of the perovskite by forming strong hydrogen bonds with the halide anions. This interaction also provides opportunities for tuning the electronic states near the bandgap. These mechanisms should have a universal character in different hybrid organic-inorganic framework materials that are widely used.

Iodomethane-Mediated Organometal Halide Perovskite with Record Photoluminescence Lifetime

Organometallic lead halide perovskites are excellent light harvesters for high-efficiency photovoltaic devices. However, as the key component in these devices, a perovskite thin film with good morphology and minimal trap states is still difficult to obtain. Herein we show that by incorporating a low boiling point alkyl halide such as iodomethane (CH3I) into the precursor solution, a perovskite (CH3NH3PbI3-xClx) film with improved grain size and orientation can be easily achieved. More importantly, these films exhibit a significantly reduced amount of trap states. Record photoluminescence lifetimes of more than 4 μs are achieved; these lifetimes are significantly longer than that of pristine CH3NH3PbI3-xClx films. Planar heterojunction solar cells incorporating these CH3I-mediated perovskites have demonstrated a dramatically increased power conversion efficiency compared to the ones using pristine CH3NH3PbI3-xClx. Photoluminescence, transient absorption, and microwave detected photoconductivity measurements all provide consistent evidence that CH3I addition increases the number of excitons generated and their diffusion length, both of which assist efficient carrier transport in the photovoltaic device. The simple incorporation of alkyl halide to enhance perovskite surface passivation introduces an important direction for future progress on high efficiency perovskite optoelectronic devices.

Highly Tunable Colloidal Perovskite Nanoplatelets through Variable Cation, Metal, and Halide Composition

Colloidal perovskite nanoplatelets are a promising class of semiconductor nanomaterials-exhibiting bright luminescence, tunable and spectrally narrow absorption and emission features, strongly confined excitonic states, and facile colloidal synthesis. Here, we demonstrate the high degree of spectral tunability achievable through variation of the cation, metal, and halide composition as well as nanoplatelet thickness. We synthesize nanoplatelets of the form L2[ABX3]n-1BX4, where L is an organic ligand (octylammonium, butylammonium), A is a monovalent metal or organic molecular cation (cesium, methylammonium, formamidinium), B is a divalent metal cation (lead, tin), X is a halide anion (chloride, bromide, iodide), and n-1 is the number of unit cells in thickness. We show that variation of n, B, and X leads to large changes in the absorption and emission energy, while variation of the A cation leads to only subtle changes but can significantly impact the nanoplatelet stability and photoluminescence quantum yield (with values over 20%). Furthermore, mixed halide nanoplatelets exhibit continuous spectral tunability over a 1.5 eV spectral range, from 2.2 to 3.7 eV. The nanoplatelets have relatively large lateral dimensions (100 nm to 1 μm), which promote self-assembly into stacked superlattice structures-the periodicity of which can be adjusted based on the nanoplatelet surface ligand length. These results demonstrate the versatility of colloidal perovskite nanoplatelets as a material platform, with tunability extending from the deep-UV, across the visible, into the near-IR. In particular, the tin-containing nanoplatelets represent a significant addition to the small but increasingly important family of lead- and cadmium-free colloidal semiconductors.

Chemical Approaches to Addressing the Instability and Toxicity of Lead-Halide Perovskite Absorbers

The impressive rise in efficiencies of solar cells employing the three-dimensional (3D) lead-iodide perovskite absorbers APbI₃ (A = monovalent cation) has generated intense excitement. Although these perovskites have remarkable properties as solar-cell absorbers, their potential commercialization now requires a greater focus on the materials' inherent shortcomings and environmental impact. This creates a challenge and an opportunity for synthetic chemists to address these issues through the design of new materials. Synthetic chemistry offers powerful tools for manipulating the magnificent flexibility of the perovskite lattice to expand the number of functional analogues to APbI₃. To highlight improvements that should be targeted in new materials, here we discuss the intrinsic instability and toxicity of 3D lead-halide perovskites. We consider possible sources of these instabilities and propose methods to overcome them through synthetic design. We also discuss new materials developed for realizing the exceptional photophysical properties of lead-halide perovskites in more environmentally benign materials. In this Forum Article, we provide a brief overview of the field with a focus on our group's contributions to identifying and addressing problems inherent to 3D lead-halide perovskites.

Halide Perovskites: Poor Man's High-Performance Semiconductors

Halide perovskites are a rapidly developing class of medium-bandgap semiconductors which, to date, have been popularized on account of their remarkable success in solid-state heterojunction solar cells raising the photovoltaic efficiency to 20% within the last 5 years. As the physical properties of the materials are being explored, it is becoming apparent that the photovoltaic performance of the halide perovskites is just but one aspect of the wealth of opportunities that these compounds offer as high-performance semiconductors. From unique optical and electrical properties stemming from their characteristic electronic structure to highly efficient real-life technological applications, halide perovskites constitute a brand new class of materials with exotic properties awaiting discovery. The nature of halide perovskites from the materials' viewpoint is discussed here, enlisting the most important classes of the compounds and describing their most exciting properties. The topics covered focus on the optical and electrical properties highlighting some of the milestone achievements reported to date but also addressing controversies in the vastly expanding halide perovskite literature.

Employing Lead Thiocyanate Additive to Reduce the Hysteresis and Boost the Fill Factor of Planar Perovskite Solar Cells

Lead thiocyanate in the perovskite precursor can increase the grain size of a perovskite thin film and reduce the conductivity of the grain boundaries, leading to perovskite solar cells with reduced hysteresis and enhanced fill factor. A planar perovskite solar cell with grain boundary and interface passivation achieves a steady-state efficiency of 18.42%.

Crystal structure of hexaaquamanganese(II) bis((E)-4-((4-(dimethylamino)phenyl)diazenyl)benzenesulfonate), C28H40MnN6O12S2

C28H40MnN6O12S2, monoclinic, P21/c (no. 14), a = 6.211(5) Å, b = 7.146(5) Å, c = 38.895(5) Å, β = 91.283(5)°, V = 1725.9(19) Å3, Z = 2, R gt (F) = 0.0639, wR ref (F 2 ) = 0.1094, T = 300 K.

Predicting and Screening Dielectric Transitions in a Series of Hybrid Organic-Inorganic Double Perovskites via an Extended Tolerance Factor Approach

Extended Goldschmidt tolerance factor t is applied to the hybrid double perovskites (MA)2 [B'B''(CN)6 ] (MA=methylammonium cation) to predict and screen dielectric transitions in 121 compounds through the correlations among t, the radius of the B component rB and the transition temperature Tc , based on experimental results from model compounds. For (MA)2 [B'Co(CN)6 ], it is concluded that: i) when t>0.873, the cubic phase would be stable below 298 K; ii) when 0.873>t>0.805, the cubic phase would be stable between 298 and 523 K; iii) the larger the rB , the higher the Tc of the perovskite (Tc (1/2) ∝rB ); and iv) the Tc of the hybrid perovskites can be well tuned by doping the B components.

On the application of the tolerance factor to inorganic and hybrid halide perovskites: a revised system

Can new hybrid perovskites be predicted using the tolerance factor?

The tolerance factor is a widely used predictor of perovskite stability. The recent interest in hybrid perovskites for use as solar cell absorbers has lead to application of the tolerance factor to these materials as a way to explain and predict structure. Here we critically assess the suitability of the tolerance factor for halide perovskites. We show that the tolerance factor fails to accurately predict the stability of the 32 known inorganic iodide perovskites, and propose an alternative method. We introduce a revised set of ionic radii for cations that is anion dependent, this revision is necessary due to increased covalency in metal–halide bonds for heavier halides compared with the metal-oxide and fluoride bonds used to calculate Shannon radii. We also employ a 2D structural map to account for the size requirements of the halide anions. Together these measures yield a simple system which may assist in the search for new hybrid and inorganic perovskites.

Light-Induced Synthesis of Heterojunctioned Nanoparticles on a Semiconductor as Durable Cocatalysts for Hydrogen Evolution

This work attempted to synthesize heterojunctioned nanoparticles consisting of a transition metal and Cr on powdered SrTiO3, an n-type semiconductor exhibiting photocatalytic activity for overall water splitting. This was performed via band gap irradiation of SrTiO3 (λ > 300 nm) in an aqueous methanol solution containing a transition metal precursor and K2CrO4. The resulting multicomponent nanoparticles were examined as promoters for photocatalytic overall water splitting. Among the transition metals examined, Au and Pd became effective promoters for overall water splitting upon codeposition of Cr. In the case of Au, which is stable in its metallic state, the resulting (Au+Cr) nanoparticles had a core/shell structure consisting of metallic Au (the core) and amorphous Cr2O3 (the shell), similar to Au/Cr2O3 prepared by a stepwise photodeposition method. However, when using a core transition metal with a tendency to form an oxide, such as Pd, the nanoparticles had different morphologies and electronic states, depending on the proportion of Cr. In the case of a combination of Pd and Cr, the photocatalytic activity for overall water splitting was strongly dependent on the structure and electronic state of the (Pd+Cr) multicomponent cocatalyst. Increasing the proportion of Cr was found to suppress the reverse reaction (that is, H2-O2 recombination), an effect that is not realized when employing a conventional impregnation method.

Overcoming Short-Circuit in Lead-Free CH3NH3SnI3 Perovskite Solar Cells via Kinetically Controlled Gas-Solid Reaction Film Fabrication Process

The development of Sn-based perovskite solar cells has been challenging because devices often show short-circuit behavior due to poor morphologies and undesired electrical properties of the thin films. A low-temperature vapor-assisted solution process (LT-VASP) has been employed as a novel kinetically controlled gas-solid reaction film fabrication method to prepare lead-free CH3NH3SnI3 thin films. We show that the solid SnI2 substrate temperature is the key parameter in achieving perovskite films with high surface coverage and excellent uniformity. The resulting high-quality CH3NH3SnI3 films allow the successful fabrication of solar cells with drastically improved reproducibility, reaching an efficiency of 1.86%. Furthermore, our Kelvin probe studies show the VASP films have a doping level lower than that of films prepared from the conventional one-step method, effectively lowering the film conductivity. Above all, with (LT)-VASP, the short-circuit behavior often obtained from the conventional one-step-fabricated Sn-based perovskite devices has been overcome. This study facilitates the path to more successful Sn-perovskite photovoltaic research.

Large Perovskite Grain Growth in Low-Temperature Solution-Processed Planar p-i-n Solar Cells by Sodium Addition

Thin-film p-i-n type planar heterojunction perovskite solar cells have the advantage of full low temperature solution processability and can, therefore, be adopted in roll-to-roll production and flexible devices. One of the main challenges with these devices, however, is the ability to finely control the film morphology during the deposition and crystallization of the perovskite layer. Processes suitable for optimization of the perovskite layer film morphology with large grains are highly desirable for reduced recombination of charge carriers. Here, we show how uniform thin films with micron size perovskite grains can be made through the use of a controlled amount of sodium ions in the precursor solution. Large micrometer-size CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite grains are formed during low-temperature thin-film growth by adding sodium ions to the PbI2 precursor solution in a two-step interdiffusion process. By adjusting additive concentration, film morphologies were optimized and the fabricated p-i-n planar perovskite-PCBM solar cells showed improved power conversion efficiences (an average of 3-4% absolute efficiency enhancement) compared to the nonsodium based devices. Overall, the additive enhanced grain growth process helped to reach a high 14.2% solar cell device efficiency with low hysteresis. This method of grain growth is quite general and provides a facile way to fabricate large-grained CH3NH3PbI3 on any arbitrary surface by an all solution-processed route.

Dynamic Growth of Pinhole-Free Conformal CH3NH3PbI3 Film for Perovskite Solar Cells

Two-step dipping is one of the popular low temperature solution methods to prepare organic-inorganic halide perovskite (CH3NH3PbI3) films for solar cells. However, pinholes in perovskite films fabricated by the static growth method (SGM) result in low power conversion efficiency (PCE) in the resulting solar cells. In this work, the static dipping process is changed into a dynamic dipping process by controlled stirring PbI2 substrates in CH3NH3I isopropanol solution. The dynamic growth method (DGM) produces more nuclei and decreases the pinholes during the nucleation and growth of perovskite crystals. The compact perovskite films with free pinholes are obtained by DGM, which present that the big perovskite particles with a size of 350 nm are surrounded by small perovskite particles with a size of 50 nm. The surface coverage of the perovskite film is up to nearly 100%. Such high quality perovskite film not only eliminated pinholes, resulting in reduced charge recombination of the solar cells, but also improves the light harvesting efficiency. As a result, the PCE of the perovskite solar cells is increased from 11% for SGM to 13% for DGM.

Interfacial Study To Suppress Charge Carrier Recombination for High Efficiency Perovskite Solar Cells

We report effects of an interface between TiO2-perovskite and grain-grain boundaries of perovskite films prepared by single step and sequential deposited technique using different annealing times at optimum temperature. Nanoscale kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) measurement shows that charge transport in a perovskite solar cell critically depends upon the annealing conditions. The KPFM results of single step and sequential deposited films show that the increase in potential barrier suppresses the back-recombination between electrons in TiO2 and holes in perovskite. Spatial mapping of the surface potential within perovskite film exhibits higher positive potential at grain boundaries compared to the surface of the grains. The average grain boundary potential of 300-400 mV is obtained upon annealing for sequentially deposited films. X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectra indicate the formation of a PbI2 phase upon annealing which suppresses the recombination. Transient analysis exhibits that the optimum device has higher carrier lifetime and short carrier transport time among all devices. An optimum grain boundary potential and proper band alignment between the TiO2 electron transport layer (ETL) and the perovskite absorber layer help to increase the overall device performance.

Theory of hydrogen migration in organic-inorganic halide perovskites

Solar cells based on organic-inorganic halide perovskites have recently been proven to be remarkably efficient. However, they exhibit hysteresis in their current-voltage curves, and their stability in the presence of water is problematic. Both issues are possibly related to a diffusion of defects in the perovskite material. By using first-principles calculations based on density functional theory, we study the properties of an important defect in hybrid perovskites-interstitial hydrogen. We show that differently charged defects occupy different crystal sites, which may allow for ionization-enhanced defect migration following the Bourgoin-Corbett mechanism. Our analysis highlights the structural flexibility of organic-inorganic perovskites: successive iodide displacements, combined with hydrogen bonding, enable proton diffusion with low migration barriers. These findings indicate that hydrogen defects can be mobile and thus highly relevant for the performance of perovskite solar cells.

Two-Dimensional Perovskite Activation with an Organic Luminophore

A great advantage of the hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites is the chemical flexibility and the possibility of a molecular engineering of each part of the material (the inorganic part and the organic part respectively) in order to improve or add some functionalities. An adequately chosen organic luminophore has been introduced inside a lead bromide type organic-inorganic perovskite, while respecting the two-dimensional perovskite structure. A substantial increase of the brilliance of the perovskite is obtained. This activation of the perovskite luminescence by the adequate engineering of the organic part is an original approach, and is particularly interesting in the framework of the light-emitting devices such as organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) or lasers.

Perovskites with the Framework-Forming Xenon

The Group 18 elements (noble gases) were the last ones in the periodic system to have not been encountered in perovskite structures. We herein report the synthesis of a new group of double perovskites KM(XeNaO6) (M = Ca, Sr, Ba) containing framework-forming xenon. The structures of the new compounds, like other double perovskites, are built up of the alternating sequence of corner-sharing (XeO6) and (NaO6) octahedra arranged in a three-dimensional rocksalt order. The fact that xenon can be incorporated into the perovskite structure provides new insights into the problem of Xe depletion in the atmosphere. Since octahedrally coordinated Xe(VIII) and Si(IV) exhibit close values of ionic radii (0.48 and 0.40 Å, respectively), one could assume that Xe(VIII) can be incorporated into hyperbaric frameworks such as MgSiO3 perovskite. The ability of Xe to form stable inorganic frameworks can further extend the rich and still enigmatic chemistry of this noble gas.

Ambipolar solution-processed hybrid perovskite phototransistors

Organolead halide perovskites have attracted substantial attention because of their excellent physical properties, which enable them to serve as the active material in emerging hybrid solid-state solar cells. Here we investigate the phototransistors based on hybrid perovskite films and provide direct evidence for their superior carrier transport property with ambipolar characteristics. The field-effect mobilities for triiodide perovskites at room temperature are measured as 0.18 (0.17) cm(2) V(-1) s(-1) for holes (electrons), which increase to 1.24 (1.01) cm(2) V(-1) s(-1) for mixed-halide perovskites. The photoresponsivity of our hybrid perovskite devices reaches 320 A W(-1), which is among the largest values reported for phototransistors. Importantly, the phototransistors exhibit an ultrafast photoresponse speed of less than 10 μs. The solution-based process and excellent device performance strongly underscore hybrid perovskites as promising material candidates for photoelectronic applications.

Enhancing Stability of Perovskite Solar Cells to Moisture by the Facile Hydrophobic Passivation

In this study, a novel and facile passivation process for a perovskite solar cell is reported. Poor stability in ambient atmosphere, which is the most critical demerit of a perovskite solar cell, is overcome by a simple passivation process using a hydrophobic polymer layer. Teflon, the hydrophobic polymer, is deposited on the top of a perovskite solar cell by a spin-coating method. With the hydrophobic passivation, the perovskite solar cell shows negligible degradation after a 30 day storage in ambient atmosphere. Suppressed degradation of the perovskite film is proved in various ways: X-ray diffraction, light absorption spectrum, and quartz crystal microbalance. This simple but effective passivation process suggests new kind of approach to enhance stability of perovskite solar cells to moisture.

Hydrogen bonds and steric effects induced structural modulation of three layered iodoplumbate hybrids from nonperovskite to perovskite structure

Directed by diprotonated organic diamines containing both primary and tertiary ammonium groups, three layered iodoplumbate hybrids, {[H2DMPDA][PbI4]}n (1), {[H2DEPDA]4[Pb5I18]}n (2) and {[H2TMEDA][Pb3I8]}n (3) (DMPDA = N,N-dimethyl-1,3-propanediamine, DEPDA = N,N-diethyl-1,3-propanediamine, TMEDA = N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine), have been synthesized solvothermally. 1 presents a layered perovskite structure based on corner-sharing PbI6 octahedra, compound 2 consists of a Pb4I20 perovskite motif and a Pb2I10 dimeric motif and compound 3 comprises Pb3I13 units connected by face-sharing and edge-sharing modes. Structural modulations from nonperovskite to perovskite structure are strongly correlated to steric effects and hydrogen bonding interaction at the organic-inorganic interface. Band gaps for 1-3 , estimated as 2.21, 2.58 and 2.73 eV, respectively, also reveal an interesting correlation with structural modulation, and the red shift for 1 is attributed to large Pb-I(equatorial)-Pb bond angles.