Photophysics of 2D Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Lead Halide Perovskites: Progress, Debates, and Challenges

Monolithic 2D Perovskites Enabled Artificial Photonic Synapses for Neuromorphic Vision Sensors

Neuromorphic visual sensors (NVS) based on photonic synapses hold a significant promise to emulate the human visual system. However, current photonic synapses rely on exquisite engineering of the complex heterogeneous interface to realize learning and memory functions, resulting in high fabrication cost, reduced reliability, high energy consumption and uncompact architecture, severely limiting the up-scaled manufacture, and on-chip integration. Here a photo-memory fundamental based on ion-exciton coupling is innovated to simplify synaptic structure and minimize energy consumption. Due to the intrinsic organic/inorganic interface within the crystal, the photodetector based on monolithic 2D perovskite exhibits a persistent photocurrent lasting about 90 s, enabling versatile synaptic functions. The electrical power consumption per synaptic event is estimated to be≈1.45 × 10-16 J, one order of magnitude lower than that in a natural biological system. Proof-of-concept image preprocessing using the neuromorphic vision sensors enabled by photonic synapse demonstrates 4 times enhancement of classification accuracy. Furthermore, getting rid of the artificial neural network, an expectation-based thresholding model is put forward to mimic the human visual system for facial recognition. This conceptual device unveils a new mechanism to simplify synaptic structure, promising the transformation of the NVS and fostering the emergence of next generation neural networks.

Research Progress on Rashba Effect in Two-Dimensional Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Lead Halide Perovskites

The Rashba effect appears in the semiconductors with an inversion-asymmetric structure and strong spin-orbit coupling, which splits the spin-degenerated band into two sub-bands with opposite spin states. The Rashba effect can not only be used to regulate carrier relaxations, thereby improving the performance of photoelectric devices, but also used to expand the applications of semiconductors in spintronics. In this mini-review, recent research progress on the Rashba effect of two-dimensional (2D) organic-inorganic hybrid perovskites is summarized. The origin and magnitude of Rashba spin splitting, layer-dependent Rashba band splitting of 2D perovskites, the Rashba effect in 2D perovskite quantum dots, a 2D/3D perovskite composite, and 2D-perovskites-based van der Waals heterostructures are discussed. Moreover, applications of the 2D Rashba effect in circularly polarized light detection are reviewed. Finally, future research to modulate the Rashba strength in 2D perovskites is prospected, which is conceived to promote the optoelectronic and spintronic applications of 2D perovskites.

Interfacial Rivet to Fill Structural Defects: A Spacer Engineering Gift for 3D Solar Cells

The combination of 2D and 3D perovskites to passivate surfaces or interfaces with a high concentration of defects shows great promise for improving the efficiency of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Constructing high-quality perovskite film systems by precisely modulating 2D perovskites with good morphologies and growth sites on 3D perovskite films remains a formidable challenge due to the complexity of spacer-engineered surface reactions. In this study, phase-pure 2D (HA)2(MA)n-1PbnI3n+1 perovskites with a controlled number of layers (n) are separated on a large scale and exploited as interface rivets to optimize 3D perovskite films, resulting in tunable film structural defects and grain boundaries. The optimized PSCs system benefits from a reduction in non-radiative recombination, resulting in improved optical performance, higher mobility, and lower trap density. The corresponding device achieves a champion power conversion efficiency (PCE) of more than 25%, especially for voltage (VOC) and fill factor (FF). The quality and uniformity of the perovskite films are further confirmed using large-area devices with an active area of 14 cm2, which exhibits a PCE of more than 21.24%. The high-quality thin-film system based on the 2D perovskites presented herein provides a new perspective for improving the efficiency and stability of PSCs.

Photoinduced Transition from Quasi-Two-Dimensional Ruddlesden-Popper to Three-Dimensional Halide Perovskites for the Optical Writing of Multicolor and Light-Erasable Images

Optical data storage, information encryption, and security labeling technologies require materials that exhibit local, pronounced, and diverse modifications of their structure-dependent optical properties under external excitation. Herein, we propose and develop a novel platform relying on lead halide Ruddlesden-Popper phases that undergo a light-induced transition toward bulk perovskite and employ this phenomenon for the direct optical writing of multicolor patterns. This transition causes the weakening of quantum confinement and hence a reduction in the band gap. To extend the color gamut of photoluminescence, we use mixed-halide compositions that exhibit photoinduced halide segregation. The emission of the films can be tuned across the range of 450-600 nm. Laser irradiation provides high-resolution direct writing, whereas continuous-wave ultraviolet exposure is suitable for recording on larger scales. The luminescent images created on such films can be erased during the visualization process. This makes the proposed writing/erasing platform suitable for the manufacturing of optical data storage devices and light-erasable security labels.

Introducing Ferroelasticity into 1D Hybrid Lead Halide Semiconductor by Halogen Substitution Strategy

Organic-inorganic hybrid lead halide perovskites (OLHPs), represented by (CH3 NH3 )PbI3 , are one of the research focus due to their exceptional performance in optoelectronic applications, and ferroelastic domain walls are benign to their charge carrier transport that is confirmed recently. Among them, the 1D OLHPs feature better stability against desorption and moisture, but related 1D ones possessing ferroelasticity are rarely investigated and reported so far. In this work, the 1D ferroelastic semiconductor (N-iodomethyl-N-methyl-morpholinium)PbI3 ((IDMML)PbI3 ) is prepared successfully by introducing successively halogenate atoms from Cl, Br to I into the organic cation of the prototype (N,N-dimethylmorpholinium)PbI3 ((DMML)PbI3 ). Notably, (IDMML)PbI3 shows the narrow bandgap energy (≈2.34 eV) according to the ultraviolet-visible absorption spectrum and the theoretical calculation, and possesses the evident photoconductive characteristic with the on/off ratio of current of ≈50 under the 405 nm light irradiation. This work provides a new case for the ferroelastic OLHPs and will inspire intriguing research in the field of optoelectronic.

Fabrication and Characterization of 2D Layered Perovskites with a Gradient Band Gap

Vertical gradient band-gap heterostructures of two-dimensional (2D) layered perovskites have attracted considerable research interest due to their superior optoelectronic properties and demonstrated potential for use in optical devices. However, its fabrication has been challenging. In this investigation, 2D Ruddlesden-Popper mixed halide perovskite single crystals with a vertical gradient band gap were synthesized by using a solid-state halide diffusion process. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) measurements after diffusion confirm that the crystalline and morphology remain intact. The transmittance and photoluminescence (PL) spectra show the formation of a vertical gradient band gap that is ascribed to gradient halide distribution through halide intermixing. The mixed halide crystal exhibits high stability with completely suppressed phase segregation in the time-dependent PL measurement. The time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) spectra prove that the mixed halide sample has an enhanced carrier transport due to the Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) effect. Besides, the halide diffusion behavior is found to be different from the previously proposed "layer-by-layer" diffusion model in exfoliated crystals. The gradient band-gap structure is critical for various applications in which vertical carrier transport is demanded.

Pressure driven rotational isomerism in 2D hybrid perovskites

Multilayers consisting of alternating soft and hard layers offer enhanced toughness compared to all-hard structures. However, shear instability usually exists in physically sputtered multilayers because of deformation incompatibility among hard and soft layers. Here, we demonstrate that 2D hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites (HOIP) provide an interesting platform to study the stress-strain behavior of hard and soft layers undulating with molecular scale periodicity. We investigate the phonon vibrations and photoluminescence properties of Ruddlesden-Popper perovskites (RPPs) under compression using a diamond anvil cell. The organic spacer due to C4 alkyl chain in RPP buffers compressive stress by tilting (n = 1 RPP) or step-wise rotational isomerism (n = 2 RPP) during compression, where n is the number of inorganic layers. By examining the pressure threshold of the elastic recovery regime across n = 1-4 RPPs, we obtained molecular insights into the relationship between structure and deformation resistance in hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites.

Organic-inorganic hybrid hexa-chlorido-stannate(IV) with 2-methyl-imidazo[1,5-a]pyridin-2-ium cation

The hybrid salt bis-(2-methyl-imidazo[1,5-a]pyridin-2-ium) hexa-chlorido-stannate(IV), (C₈H₉N₂)₂[SnCl₆], crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/n with the asymmetric unit containing an Sn_0.5Cl₃ fragment (Sn site symmetry ) and one organic cation. The five- and six-membered rings in the cation are nearly coplanar; bond lengths in the pyridinium ring of the fused core are as expected; the C-N/C bond distances in the imidazolium entity fall in the range 1.337 (5)-1.401 (5) Å. The octa-hedral SnCl₆ ^2- dianion is almost undistorted with the Sn-Cl distances varying from 2.4255 (9) to 2.4881 (8) Å and the cis Cl-Sn-Cl angles approaching 90°. In the crystal, π-stacked chains of cations and loosely packed SnCl₆ ^2- dianions form separate sheets alternating parallel to (101). Most of the numerous C-H⋯Cl-Sn contacts between the organic and inorganic counterparts with the H⋯Cl distances above the van der Waals contact limit of 2.85 Å are considered a result of crystal packing.

Asymmetric Diammonium Directed In-Plane Charge Transport Enhancement in Two-Dimensional Lead Bromide Perovskite for Weak-Light Detection

Two-dimensional (2D) Dion-Jacobson (DJ) perovskites are drawing significant attention in optoelectronic fields because of their enhanced out-of-plane electron coupling and improved structure stability. However, the structural effects of organic cations on the in-plane charge transport properties of 2D DJ lead bromide perovskites have remained less explored. Herein, we adopt asymmetric 3-(dimethylamino)-1-propylammonium (DMPD) and symmetric butane-1,4-diammonium (BDA) to systematically investigate the influence of organic cations on the structural, optical, and in-plane charge transport properties of 2D lead bromide perovskites. The large penetration depth of DMPD²⁺ induces a decreased perovskite layer distortion and a lower bandgap in DMPDPbBr₄, compared with that of BDAPbBr₄. Moreover, DMPDPbBr₄ is shown to possess a low exciton binding energy, a low defect density, and a low ion migration activation energy, thereby yielding a more efficient in-plane charge collection efficiency than BDAPbBr₄. Density functional theory calculations suggest that the improved in-plane charge transport can be traced to the enlarged antibonding coupling between Pb-6s and Br-4p orbitals that enables a high band dispersion and a low carrier effective mass in the in-plane direction of DMPDPbBr₄. Finally, the planar Ag/DMPDPbBr₄/Ag photodetector delivers a satisfying detectivity of 1.73 × 10¹² Jones under an incident power intensity of 0.16 mW cm^-2 and a high on/off ratio of 5.3 × 10³. The above findings offer novel insight for the design of 2D DJ lead bromide perovskites for optoelectronic devices.

Enhanced Amplified Spontaneous Emission in Quasi-2D Perovskite by Facilitating Energy Transfer

Despite the superior optoelectronic properties of quasi-two-dimensional (quasi-2D) Ruddlesden-Popper halide perovskites, the inhomogeneous distribution of mixed phases result in inefficient energy transfer and multiple emission peaks. Herein, the insufficient energy funneling process at the high-energy phase is almost completely suppressed and the excitonic understanding of gain nature is studied in the energy funneling managed quasi-2D perovskite via introducing poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) additive. The energy transfer process is facilitated from 0.37 to 0.26 ps after introducing the PVP additive, accelerating the exciton accumulation in the emissive state, and increasing the ratio of the high-dimensional phase for enhancing radiative emission. The gain lifetime is promoted to be as fast as 28 ps to outcompete nonradiative recombination during the build-up of population inversion. Simultaneously, the net gain coefficient is increased by more than twofold that of the pristine perovskite film. Owing to the remarkable gain properties, room-temperature amplified spontaneous emission is realized with a low threshold of 11.3 μJ/cm2, 4 times lower than 43 μJ/cm2 of the pristine film. Our findings suggest that the PVP-treated quasi-2D perovskite shows great promise for high-performance laser devices.

Engineering van der Waals Materials for Advanced Metaphotonics

The outstanding chemical and physical properties of 2D materials, together with their atomically thin nature, make them ideal candidates for metaphotonic device integration and construction, which requires deep subwavelength light-matter interaction to achieve optical functionalities beyond conventional optical phenomena observed in naturally available materials. In addition to their intrinsic properties, the possibility to further manipulate the properties of 2D materials via chemical or physical engineering dramatically enhances their capability, evoking new science on light-matter interaction, leading to leaped performance of existing functional devices and giving birth to new metaphotonic devices that were unattainable previously. Comprehensive understanding of the intrinsic properties of 2D materials, approaches and capabilities for chemical and physical engineering methods, the resulting property modifications and novel functionalities, and applications of metaphotonic devices are provided in this review. Through reviewing the detailed progress in each aspect and the state-of-the-art achievement, insightful analyses of the outstanding challenges and future directions are elucidated in this cross-disciplinary comprehensive review with the aim to provide an overall development picture in the field of 2D material metaphotonics and promote rapid progress in this fast emerging and prosperous field.

Origin and physical effects of edge states in two-dimensional Ruddlesden-Popper perovskites

The edge region of two-dimensional (2D) Ruddlesden-Popper (RP) perovskites exhibits anomalous properties from the bulk region, including low energy emission and superior capability of dissociating exciton, which is highly beneficial for the optoelectronic devices like solar cells and photodetectors, denoted as “edge states”. In this review, we introduce the recent progress on the edge states that have been focused on the origin and the optoelectronic properties of edge states in 2D RP perovskites. By providing theoretical frameworks and experimental observations, we elucidate the origin of the edge states from two aspects, intrinsic electronic properties and extrinsic structure distortions. Besides, we introduce the physical properties of the edge states and current debating on this topic. Finally, we present an outlook on future research about the edge states of 2D RP perovskites.

Two-photon-pumped amplified spontaneous emission from Ruddlesden-Popper perovskite flakes

Herein, we report the two-photon pumped amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) in the 2D RPPs flakes at room temperature. We prepared high-quality (BA)₂(MA)_n-1Pb_nI_3n+1 (n = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) flakes by mechanical exfoliating from the fabricated crystals. We show that the (BA)₂(MA)_n-1Pb_nI_3n+1 flakes display a tunable two-photon pumped emission from 527 nm to 680 nm, as n increases from 1 to 5. Furthermore, we demonstrated two-photon pumped ASE from the (BA)₂(MA)_n-1Pb_nI_3n+1 (n = 3, 4, 5) flakes. The two-photon pumped ASE thresholds of the RPPs are lower than lots of the other semiconductor nanostructures, indicating an excellent performance of the RPPs for two-photon pumped emission. In addition, we investigated the pump-wavelength-dependent two-photon pumped ASE behaviors of the RPPs flakes, which suggest that the near-infrared laser in a wide wavelength range can be converted into visible light by the frequency upconversion process in RPPs. This work has opened new avenues for realizing nonlinearly pumped ASE based on the RPPs, which shows great potential for the applications in wavelength-tunable frequency upconversion.

Single Crystals of Mixed-Cation Copper-Based Perovskite with Trimodal Bandgap Behavior

Two-dimensional (2D) hybrid perovskites with novel functionalities and structural diversity are a perfect platform for emerging optoelectronic devices such as photodetectors, light-emitting diodes, and solar cells. Here, we demonstrate that excess concentration of Cesium bromide (CsBr) is key to the formation of easily exfoliated 2D Cs₂ Cu(Cl/Br)₄ perovskite crystal. Furthermore, by employing this trick to 2D perovskite MA₂ Cu(Cl/Br)₄ (MA=methylammonium), we achieve a phase-pure easily exfoliated 2D mixed-cation (MA/Cs)₂ Cu(Cl/Br)₄ perovskite crystal, which exhibits reduced bandgap (1.53 eV) with ferromagnetic behavior and photovoltaic property. The resultant mixed-cation structured device reveals enhanced efficiency compared to all MA and all Cs counterparts. These findings demonstrate the importance of cation-engineering in developing innovative materials with novel properties.

Structural characterizations on the degradation of 2D organic-inorganic hybrid perovskites and its enlightenment to improved stability

Despite the demonstrated high-efficiency of solar cells and light-emitting devices based on two-dimensional (2D) perovskites, intrinsic stability of the 2D perovskites is yet far from satisfactory. In this work, we find the 2D (BA)₂PbI₄perovskite crystals rapidly degrade in the ambient conditions and the photoluminescence (PL) nearly completely quenches in 6 d. Moreover, the PL shoulder band due to defects and absorption band of PbI₂gradually rise during degradation, suggesting the precipitation of PbI₂. Besides, rod structures are observed in the degraded crystals, which are attributed to the formation of one-dimensional (1D) (BA)₃PbI₅perovskites. And the degradation can be largely retarded by decreasing the humidity during storage. Therefore, a chemical reaction for the degradation of (BA)₂PbI₄is proposed, revealing the interactions between water molecules and undercoordinated defects are very critical for understanding the degradation. Enlightened by these findings, dimethyl itaconate (DI) treatment is developed to passivate the defects and block the intrusion of moisture to improve the stability of the (BA)₂PbI₄. After storage in the ambient environment for 16 d, the DI treated (BA)₂PbI₄only shows a slight surface degradation without formation of any nanorod-like structures, and the PL intensity retains about 70%. Therefore, our systematic study provides a comprehensive understanding on the degradation dynamics of 2D perovskites, which will promote future development of intrinsically stable 2D perovskites.

Formamidinium Perovskitizers and Aromatic Spacers Synergistically Building Bilayer Dion-Jacobson Perovskite Photoelectric Bulk Crystals

Two-dimensional (2D) multilayer Dion-Jacobson (DJ) phase organic inorganic hybrid perovskites (OIHPs) have attracted extensive research attention due to the high stability and excellent charge-transport properties in the optoelectronic field. However, the synthesis of 2D multilayer DJ OIHPs is still very challenging. Until now, only few multilayer DJ perovskites have been reported and most of them are based on volatile methylamine (MA) cations. Compared with MA-based OIHPs, the OIHPs constructed with formamidinium (FA) as perovskitizers not only improve the stability but also extend the light absorption range. Meanwhile, the introducing aromatic diamines as spacers could promote the electron-hole separation in such DJ hybrids. However, the DJ OIHP bulk single crystal constructed by using the advantages of FA as perovskitizers and aromatic diamines as spacers is still blank. Herein, we integrate the properties of organic cations and inorganic skeletons at a molecular-scale to construct a broadband-responsive 2D bilayer DJ perovskite (3AMPY)(FA)Pb₂I₇ [3AMPY = 3-(aminomethyl)pyridinium], which shows a fascinating detectivity from X-ray (5.23 × 10⁴ μC Gy_air^-1 cm^-2 at 200 V bias) and visible light (6 × 10¹² jones at 637 nm) to the near-infrared region (2.6 × 10⁹ jones at 780 nm). After an in-depth analysis of structure and optical properties, we found that the distortion degree of Pb-I-Pb bond angles between adjacent PbI₆ octahedra plays a crucial role on optical properties; on the other hand, the interlayer spacer cations (3AMPY) and intralayer perovskitizers (FA) mutual participate in the contribution of the conduction band, making (3AMPY)(FA)Pb₂I₇ have a narrow optical band gap of 1.54 eV. Such a 2D perovskite material with a wide spectra response will be the preferred choice for photodetection under complex conditions.

Fabrication Technologies for the On-Chip Integration of 2D Materials

With compact footprint, low energy consumption, high scalability, and mass producibility, chip-scale integrated devices are an indispensable part of modern technological change and development. Recent advances in 2D layered materials with their unique structures and distinctive properties have motivated their on-chip integration, yielding a variety of functional devices with superior performance and new features. To realize integrated devices incorporating 2D materials, it requires a diverse range of device fabrication techniques, which are of fundamental importance to achieve good performance and high reproducibility. This paper reviews the state-of-art fabrication techniques for the on-chip integration of 2D materials. First, an overview of the material properties and on-chip applications of 2D materials is provided. Second, different approaches used for integrating 2D materials on chips are comprehensively reviewed, which are categorized into material synthesis, on-chip transfer, film patterning, and property tuning/modification. Third, the methods for integrating 2D van der Waals heterostructures are also discussed and summarized. Finally, the current challenges and future perspectives are highlighted.

Regulating Optical Activity and Anisotropic Second-Harmonic Generation in Zero-Dimensional Hybrid Copper Halides

Structural engineering permits the introduction of chirality into organic-inorganic hybrid metal halides (HMHs), which creates a promising and exclusive material for applications in various optoelectronics. However, the optical activity regulation of chiral HMHs remains largely unexplored. In this work, we have synthesized two pairs of lead-free chiral HMHs with a zero-dimensional tetrahedral arrangement, i.e., (R- and S-1-(1-naphthyl)ethylammonium)₂CuCl₄ and (R- and S-1-(2-naphthyl)ethylammonium)₂CuCl₄. The magnitude of optical activity in these HMHs can be efficiently modulated as a result of the different magnetic transition dipole moments. Furthermore, these HMHs exhibited effective second-harmonic generation (SHG) and distinct SHG-circular dichroism (CD), with (R-1-(1-naphthyl)ethylammonium)₂CuCl₄ having an anisotropy factor (g_SHG-CD) of up to 0.41. This work not only provides insights into regulating the optical activity and anisotropic SHG effect of lead-free chiral HMHs but also confirms the feasibility of SHG-CD spectroscopy as a promising tool for characterizing the intrinsic optical activity of chiral materials.

Resonant Degenerate Four-Wave Mixing at the Defect Energy Levels of 2D Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Perovskite Crystals

Two-dimensional organic-inorganic lead halide perovskites are generating great interest due to their optoelectronic characteristics such as high solar energy conversion efficiency and a tunable direct band gap in the visible regime. However, the presence of defect states within the two-dimensional crystal structure can affect these properties, resulting in changes to their band gap emission as well as the emergence of nonlinear optical phenomena. Here, we have investigated the effects of the presence of defect states on the nonlinear optical phenomena of the 2D hybrid perovskite (BA)₂(MA)₂Pb₃Br₁₀. When two pulses, one narrowband pump pulse centered at 800 nm and one supercontinuum pulse with bandwidth from 800-1100 nm, are incident on a perovskite flake, degenerate four-wave mixing (FWM) occurs, with peaks corresponding to the energy levels of the defect states present within the crystal. The longer carrier lifetime of the defect state, in comparison to that of virtual transitions that take place in nonresonant FWM processes, allows for a larger population of electrons to be excited by the second pump photon, resulting in increased FWM signal at the defect energy levels. The quenching of the two-photon luminescence as flake thickness increases is also observed and attributed to the increased presence of defects within the flake at larger thicknesses. This technique shows the potential of detecting defect energy levels in crystals using FWM for a variety of optoelectronic applications.

Two-Dimensional Halide Perovskites: Approaches to Improve Optoelectronic Properties

Three-dimensional (3D) halide perovskites (HPs) are in the spotlight of materials science research due to their excellent photonic and electronic properties suitable for functional device applications. However, the intrinsic instability of these materials stands as a hurdle in the way to their commercialization. Recently, two-dimensional (2D) HPs have emerged as an alternative to 3D perovskites, thanks to their excellent stability and tunable optoelectronic properties. Unlike 3D HPs, a library of 2D perovskites could be prepared by utilizing the unlimited number of organic cations since their formation is not within the boundary of the Goldschmidt tolerance factor. These materials have already proved their potential for applications such as solar cells, light-emitting diodes, transistors, photodetectors, photocatalysis, etc. However, poor charge carrier separation and transport efficiencies of 2D HPs are the bottlenecks resulting in inferior device performances compared to their 3D analogs. This minireview focuses on how to address these issues through the adoption of different strategies and improve the optoelectronic properties of 2D perovskites.

Two-dimensional halide perovskites: synthesis, optoelectronic properties, stability, and applications

Halide perovskites are promising materials for light-emitting and light-harvesting applications. In this context, two-dimensional perovskites such as nanoplatelets or Ruddlesden-Popper and Dion-Jacobson layered structures are important because of their structural flexibility, electronic confinement, and better stability. This review article brings forth an extensive overview of the recent developments of two-dimensional halide perovskites both in the colloidal and non-colloidal forms. We outline the strategy to synthesize and control the shape and discuss different crystalline phases and optoelectronic properties. We review the applications of two-dimensional perovskites in solar cells, light-emitting diodes, lasers, photodetectors, and photocatalysis. Besides, we also emphasize the moisture, thermal, and photostability of these materials in comparison to their three-dimensional analogs.