Solvent-Assisted Thermal-Pressure Strategy for Constructing High-Quality CH3NH3PbI3- xCl x Films as High-Performance Perovskite Photodetectors

Electron-Beam Irradiation Induced Regulation of Surface Defects in Lead Halide Perovskite Thin Films

Organic-inorganic hybrid perovskites (OIHPs) have been intensively studied due to their fascinating optoelectronic performance. Electron microscopy and related characterization techniques are powerful to figure out their structure-property relationships at the nanoscale. However, electron beam irradiation usually causes damage to these beam-sensitive materials and thus deteriorates the associated devices. Taking a widely used CH₃NH₃PbI₃ film as an example, here, we carry out a comprehensive study on how electron beam irradiation affects its properties. Interestingly, our results reveal that photoluminescence (PL) intensity of the film can be significantly improved along with blue-shift of emission peak at a specific electron beam dose interval. This improvement stems from the reduction of trap density at the CH₃NH₃PbI₃ surface. The knock-on effect helps expose a fresh surface assisted by the surface defect-induced lowering of displacement threshold energy. Meanwhile, the radiolysis process consistently degrades the crystal structure and weaken the PL emission with the increase of electron beam dose. Consequently, the final PL emission comes from a balance between knock-on and radiolysis effects. Taking advantage of the defect regulation, we successfully demonstrate a patterned CH₃NH₃PbI₃ film with controllable PL emission and a photodetector with enhanced photocurrent. This work will trigger the application of electron beam irradiation as a powerful tool for perovskite materials processing in micro-LEDs and other optoelectronic applications.

A novel visible light sensing and recording system enabled by integration of photodetector and electrochromic devices

The integration of multiple electronic or optoelectronic devices is an effective strategy to use their unique functions to realize a specific goal. A state-of-the-art photodetector (PD) array can realize real-time image sensing, but the image information will disappear immediately with the removal of the light stimuli. Here, we design a visible light sensing and recording system by the integration of a perovskite PD array with a tungsten trioxide-based electrochromic device (ECD) array (10 × 10 pixels). The system can convert the received visible light signals into electrical signals to change the storable color of the corresponding pixels in the ECD array, thus realizing optical information recording in the form of the color display. As a conceptual demonstration, the system achieves the recording of the "H"-shaped visible light pattern projected to the active area of the PD array. Besides, after removing the illumination stimuli, the recording of the light pattern continues in the absence of the power supply owing to the "color memory effect". The recorded length can be regulated through the periods of illumination stimulation. The proof-of-concept system may have potential applications in image sensors, electronic eyes, and intelligent electronics.

MAPbI3 Quasi-Single-Crystal Films Composed of Large-Sized Grains with Deep Boundary Fusion for Sensitive Vis-NIR Photodetectors

Perovskite single-crystal (SC) or quasi-single-crystal (QSC) films are promising candidates for excellent performance of photoelectric devices. However, it is still a great challenge to fabricate large-area continuous SC or QSC films with proper thickness. Herein, we propose a pressure-assisted high-temperature solvent-engineer (PTS) strategy to grow large-area continuous MAPbI₃ QSC films with uniformly thin thickness and orientation. Dramatic grain growth (∼100 μm in the lateral dimension) and adequate boundary fusion are realized in them, vastly eliminating the grain boundaries. Thus, remarkable diminution of the trap density (n_trap: 7.43 × 10¹¹ cm^-3) determines a long carrier lifetime (τ₂: 1.7 μs) and superior photoelectric performance of MAPbI₃-based lateral photodetectors; for instance, an ultrahigh on/off ratio (>2.4 × 10⁶, 2 V), great stability, fast response (283/306 μs), and high detectivity (1.41 × 10¹³) are achieved. The combination properties and performance of the QSC films surpass most of the reported MAPbI₃. This effective approach in growing perovskite QSC films points out a novel way for perovskite-based optoelectronic devices with superior performance.

Ruddlesden-Popper Perovskites: Synthesis and Optical Properties for Optoelectronic Applications

Ruddlesden-Popper perovskites with a formula of (A')2(A) n -1B n X3 n +1 have recently gained widespread interest as candidates for the next generation of optoelectronic devices. The variations of organic cation, metal halide, and the number of layers in the structure lead to the change of crystal structures and properties for different optoelectronic applications. Herein, the different synthetic methods for 2D perovskite crystals and thin films are summarized and compared. The optoelectronic properties and the charge transfer process in the devices are also delved, in particular, for light-emitting diodes and solar cells.

Grain Boundary Healing of Organic-Inorganic Halide Perovskites for Moisture Stability

Although organic-inorganic halide perovskite (OIHP)-based photovoltaics have high photoconversion efficiency (PCE), their poor humidity stability prevents commercialization. To overcome this critical hurdle, focusing on the grain boundary (GB) of OIHPs, which is the main humidity penetration channel, is crucial. Herein, pressure-induced crystallization of OIHP films prepared with controlled mold geometries is demonstrated as a GB-healing technique to obtain high moisture stability. When exposed to 85% RH at 30 °C, OIHP films fabricated by pressure-induced crystallization have enhanced moisture stability due to the enlarged OIHP grain size and low-angle GBs. The crystallographic and optical properties indicate the effect of applying pressure onto OIHP films in terms of moisture stability. The photovoltaic devices with pressure-induced crystallization exhibited dramatically stabilized performance and sustained over 0.95 normalized PCE after 200 h at 40% RH and 30 °C.

Flexible Photodetector Arrays Based on Patterned CH3 NH3 PbI3- x Clx Perovskite Film for Real-Time Photosensing and Imaging

The quest for novel deformable image sensors with outstanding optoelectronic properties and large-scale integration becomes a great impetus to exploit more advanced flexible photodetector (PD) arrays. Here, 10 × 10 flexible PD arrays with a resolution of 63.5 dpi are demonstrated based on as-prepared perovskite arrays for photosensing and imaging. Large-scale growth controllable CH₃ NH₃ PbI_{3- x} Cl_x arrays are synthesized on a poly(ethylene terephthalate) substrate by using a two-step sequential deposition method with the developed Al₂ O₃ -assisted hydrophilic-hydrophobic surface treatment process. The flexible PD arrays with high detectivity (9.4 × 10¹¹ Jones), large on/off current ratio (up to 1.2 × 10³ ), and broad spectral response exhibit excellent electrical stability under large bending angle (θ = 150°) and superior folding endurance after hundreds of bending cycles. In addition, the device can execute the functions of capturing a real-time light trajectory and detecting a multipoint light distribution, indicating that it has widespread potential in photosensing and imaging for optical communication, digital display, and artificial electronic skin applications.