Understanding asymmetric switching times in accumulation mode organic electrochemical transistors

Understanding the factors underpinning device switching times is crucial for the implementation of organic electrochemical transistors in neuromorphic computing, bioelectronics and real-time sensing applications. Existing models of device operation cannot explain the experimental observations that turn-off times are generally much faster than turn-on times in accumulation mode organic electrochemical transistors. Here, using operando optical microscopy, we image the local doping level of the transistor channel and show that turn-on occurs in two stages-propagation of a doping front, followed by uniform doping-while turn-off occurs in one stage. We attribute the faster turn-off to a combination of engineering as well as physical and chemical factors including channel geometry, differences in doping and dedoping kinetics and the phenomena of carrier-density-dependent mobility. We show that ion transport limits the operation speed in our devices. Our study provides insights into the kinetics of organic electrochemical transistors and guidelines for engineering faster organic electrochemical transistors.

Probing Charge Transfer Character in Modern Donor/Acceptor Materials via Electroabsorption Spectroscopy

We use electroabsorption (EA) spectroscopy to probe the charge transfer (CT) character in neat films and blends of donors and acceptors of interest for organic electronic applications. In particular, we compare the CT character in two polymer donor and non-fullerene acceptor blends, including 3,9-bis(2-methylene-((3-(1,1-dicyanomethylene)-6,7-difluoro)-indanone))-5,5,11,11-tetrakis(4-hexylphenyl)-dithieno[2,3-d:2',3'-d']-s-indaceno[1,2-b:5,6-b']dithiophene (IT-4F) and 2,2'-((2Z,2'Z)-((12,13-bis(2-ethylhexyl)-3,9-diundecyl-12,13-dihydro-[1,2,5]thiadiazolo[3,4-e]thieno[2″,3″:4',5']thieno[2',3':4,5]pyrrolo[3,2-g]thieno[2',3':4,5]thieno[3,2-b]indole-2,10-diyl)bis(methanylylidene))bis(5,6-difluoro-3-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-indene-2,1-diylidene))dimalononitrile (Y6). Like classic polymer/fullerene blends, the blend based on IT-4F exhibits primarily first derivative-like EA features, suggesting localized exciton formation upon photoexcitation. However, the Y6-based blend has an EA spectrum that is dominated by second derivative-like features, consistent with CT character. We show that this signal originates primarily from Y6. We find that Y6 exhibits the highest dipole moment change (7.5 ± 2.5 D) of the molecules that comprise this study, consistent with a high degree of the CT character, and a relatively large polarization volume of 361 ± 70 Å3, consistent with strong electron delocalization. These results point to the origins of exceptional performance of organic photovoltaics (OPVs) based on Y6.

Chain Length Dependence of Electron Transport in an n-Type Conjugated Polymer with a Rigid-Rod Chain Topology

Most currently known n-type conjugated polymers have a semiflexible chain topology, and their charge carrier mobilities are known to peak at modest chain lengths of below 40-60 repeat units. Herein, we show that the field-effect electron mobility of a model n-type conjugated polymer that has a rigid-rod chain topology grows continuously without saturation, even at a chain length exceeding 250 repeat units. We found the mechanism underlying the novel chain length-dependent electron transport to originate from the reduced structural disorder and energetic disorder with the increasing degree of polymerization inherent to the rigid-rod chain topology. Furthermore, we demonstrate a unique chain length-dependent decay of threshold voltage, which is rationalized by decreased trap densities and trap depths with respect to the degree of polymerization. Our findings provide new insights into the role of polymer chain topology in electron transport and demonstrate the promise of rigid-rod chain architectures for the design of future high-mobility conjugated polymers.

Accurate computational design of three-dimensional protein crystals

Protein crystallization plays a central role in structural biology. Despite this, the process of crystallization remains poorly understood and highly empirical, with crystal contacts, lattice packing arrangements and space group preferences being largely unpredictable. Programming protein crystallization through precisely engineered side-chain-side-chain interactions across protein-protein interfaces is an outstanding challenge. Here we develop a general computational approach for designing three-dimensional protein crystals with prespecified lattice architectures at atomic accuracy that hierarchically constrains the overall number of degrees of freedom of the system. We design three pairs of oligomers that can be individually purified, and upon mixing, spontaneously self-assemble into >100 µm three-dimensional crystals. The structures of these crystals are nearly identical to the computational design models, closely corresponding in both overall architecture and the specific protein-protein interactions. The dimensions of the crystal unit cell can be systematically redesigned while retaining the space group symmetry and overall architecture, and the crystals are extremely porous and highly stable. Our approach enables the computational design of protein crystals with high accuracy, and the designed protein crystals, which have both structural and assembly information encoded in their primary sequences, provide a powerful platform for biological materials engineering.

Kinetic Suppression of Photoinduced Halide Migration in Wide Bandgap Perovskites via Surface Passivation

In this work, we study the kinetics of photoinduced halide migration in FA0.8Cs0.2Pb(I0.8Br0.2)3 wide (∼1.69 eV) bandgap perovskites and show that halide migration slows down following surface passivation with (3-aminopropyl) trimethoxysilane (APTMS). We use scanning Kelvin probe microscopy (SKPM) to probe the contact potential difference (CPD) shift under illumination and the kinetics of surface potential relaxation in the dark. Our results show that APTMS-passivated perovskites exhibit a smaller CPD shift under illumination and a slower surface potential relaxation in the dark. We compare the evolution of the photoluminescence spectra of APTMS-passivated and unpassivated perovskites under illumination. We find that APTMS-passivated perovskites exhibit more than 5 times slower photoluminescence red-shift, consistent with the slower surface potential relaxation as observed by SKPM. These observations provide evidence for kinetic suppression of photoinduced halide migration in APTMS-passivated samples, likely due to reduced halide vacancy densities, opening avenues to more efficient and stable devices.

Resolving Nonlinear Recombination Dynamics in Semiconductors via Ultrafast Excitation Correlation Spectroscopy: Photoluminescence versus Photocurrent Detection

We explore the application of excitation correlation spectroscopy to detect nonlinear photophysical dynamics in two distinct semiconductor classes through time-integrated photoluminescence and photocurrent measurements. In this experiment, two variably delayed femtosecond pulses excite the semiconductor, and the time-integrated photoluminescence or photocurrent component arising from the nonlinear dynamics of the populations induced by each pulse is measured as a function of inter-pulse delay by phase-sensitive detection with a lock-in amplifier. We focus on two limiting materials systems with contrasting optical properties: a prototypical lead-halide perovskite (LHP) solar cell, in which primary photoexcitations are charge photocarriers, and a single-component organic-semiconductor diode, which features Frenkel excitons as primary photoexcitations. The photoexcitation dynamics perceived by the two detection schemes in these contrasting systems are distinct. Nonlinear-dynamic contributions in the photoluminescence detection scheme arise from contributions to radiative recombination in both materials systems, while photocurrent arises directly in the LHP but indirectly following exciton dissociation in the organic system. Consequently, the basic photophysics of the two systems are reflected differently when comparing measurements with the two detection schemes. Our results indicate that photoluminescence detection in the LHP system provides valuable information about trap-assisted and Auger recombination processes, but that these processes are convoluted in a nontrivial way in the photocurrent response and are therefore difficult to differentiate. In contrast, the organic-semiconductor system exhibits more directly correlated responses in the nonlinear photoluminescence and photocurrent measurements, as charge carriers are secondary excitations only generated through exciton dissociation processes. We propose that bimolecular annihilation pathways mainly contribute to the generation of charge carriers in single-component organic semiconductor devices. Overall, our work highlights the utility of excitation correlation spectroscopy in modern semiconductor materials research, particularly in the analysis of nonlinear photophysical processes, which are deterministic for their electronic and optical properties.

Surface Passivation Suppresses Local Ion Motion in Halide Perovskites

We use scanning probe microscopy to study ion migration in formamidinium (FA)-containing halide perovskite semiconductor Cs_0.22FA_0.78Pb(I_0.85Br_0.15)₃ in the presence and absence of chemical surface passivation. We measure the evolving contact potential difference (CPD) using scanning Kelvin probe microscopy (SKPM) following voltage poling. We find that ion migration leads to a ∼100 mV shift in the CPD of control films after poling with 3 V for only a few seconds. Moreover, we find that ion migration is heterogeneous, with domain interfaces leading to a larger CPD shift than domain interiors. Application of (3-aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane (APTMS) as a surface passivator further leads to 5-fold reduction in the CPD shift from ∼100 to ∼20 mV. We use hyperspectral microscopy to confirm that APTMS-treated perovskite films undergo less photoinduced halide migration than control films. We interpret these results as due to a reduction in the halide vacancy concentration after APTMS passivation.

Design Rules for Obtaining Narrow Luminescence from Semiconductors Made in Solution

Solution-processed semiconductors are in demand for present and next-generation optoelectronic technologies ranging from displays to quantum light sources because of their scalability and ease of integration into devices with diverse form factors. One of the central requirements for semiconductors used in these applications is a narrow photoluminescence (PL) line width. Narrow emission line widths are needed to ensure both color and single-photon purity, raising the question of what design rules are needed to obtain narrow emission from semiconductors made in solution. In this review, we first examine the requirements for colloidal emitters for a variety of applications including light-emitting diodes, photodetectors, lasers, and quantum information science. Next, we will delve into the sources of spectral broadening, including "homogeneous" broadening from dynamical broadening mechanisms in single-particle spectra, heterogeneous broadening from static structural differences in ensemble spectra, and spectral diffusion. Then, we compare the current state of the art in terms of emission line width for a variety of colloidal materials including II-VI quantum dots (QDs) and nanoplatelets, III-V QDs, alloyed QDs, metal-halide perovskites including nanocrystals and 2D structures, doped nanocrystals, and, finally, as a point of comparison, organic molecules. We end with some conclusions and connections, including an outline of promising paths forward.

Learning and Predicting Photonic Responses of Plasmonic Nanoparticle Assemblies via Dual Variational Autoencoders

The application of machine learning is demonstrated for rapid and accurate extraction of plasmonic particles cluster geometries from hyperspectral image data via a dual variational autoencoder (dual-VAE). In this approach, the information is shared between the latent spaces of two VAEs acting on the particle shape data and spectral data, respectively, but enforcing a common encoding on the shape-spectra pairs. It is shown that this approach can establish the relationship between the geometric characteristics of nanoparticles and their far-field photonic responses, demonstrating that hyperspectral darkfield microscopy can be used to accurately predict the geometry (number of particles, arrangement) of a multiparticle assemblies below the diffraction limit in an automated fashion with high fidelity (for monomers (0.96), dimers (0.86), and trimers (0.58). This approach of building structure-property relationships via shared encoding is universal and should have applications to a broader range of materials science and physics problems in imaging of both molecular and nanomaterial systems.

Rational design of Lewis base molecules for stable and efficient inverted perovskite solar cells

Lewis base molecules that bind undercoordinated lead atoms at interfaces and grain boundaries (GBs) are known to enhance the durability of metal halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Using density functional theory calculations, we found that phosphine-containing molecules have the strongest binding energy among members of a library of Lewis base molecules studied herein. Experimentally, we found that the best inverted PSC treated with 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane (DPPP), a diphosphine Lewis base that passivates, binds, and bridges interfaces and GBs, retained a power conversion efficiency (PCE) slightly higher than its initial PCE of ~23% after continuous operation under simulated AM1.5 illumination at the maximum power point and at ~40°C for >3500 hours. DPPP-treated devices showed a similar increase in PCE after being kept under open-circuit conditions at 85°C for >1500 hours.

Hydration of a Side-Chain-Free n-Type Semiconducting Ladder Polymer Driven by Electrochemical Doping

We study the organic electrochemical transistor (OECT) performance of the ladder polymer poly(benzimidazobenzophenanthroline) (BBL) in an attempt to better understand how an apparently hydrophobic side-chain-free polymer is able to operate as an OECT with favorable redox kinetics in an aqueous environment. We examine two BBLs of different molecular masses from different sources. Regardless of molecular mass, both BBLs show significant film swelling during the initial reduction step. By combining electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance gravimetry, in-operando atomic force microscopy, and both ex-situ and in-operando grazing incidence wide-angle X-ray scattering (GIWAXS), we provide a detailed structural picture of the electrochemical charge injection process in BBL in the absence of any hydrophilic side-chains. Compared with ex-situ measurements, in-operando GIWAXS shows both more swelling upon electrochemical doping than has previously been recognized and less contraction upon dedoping. The data show that BBL films undergo an irreversible hydration driven by the initial electrochemical doping cycle with significant water retention and lamellar expansion that persists across subsequent oxidation/reduction cycles. This swelling creates a hydrophilic environment that facilitates the subsequent fast hydrated ion transport in the absence of the hydrophilic side-chains used in many other polymer systems. Due to its rigid ladder backbone and absence of hydrophilic side-chains, the primary BBL water uptake does not significantly degrade the crystalline order, and the original dehydrated, unswelled state can be recovered after drying. The combination of doping induced hydrophilicity and robust crystalline order leads to efficient ionic transport and good stability.

Deterministic fabrication of 3D/2D perovskite bilayer stacks for durable and efficient solar cells

Realizing solution-processed heterostructures is a long-enduring challenge in halide perovskites because of solvent incompatibilities that disrupt the underlying layer. By leveraging the solvent dielectric constant and Gutmann donor number, we could grow phase-pure two-dimensional (2D) halide perovskite stacks of the desired composition, thickness, and bandgap onto 3D perovskites without dissolving the underlying substrate. Characterization reveals a 3D-2D transition region of 20 nanometers mainly determined by the roughness of the bottom 3D layer. Thickness dependence of the 2D perovskite layer reveals the anticipated trends for n-i-p and p-i-n architectures, which is consistent with band alignment and carrier transport limits for 2D perovskites. We measured a photovoltaic efficiency of 24.5%, with exceptional stability of T₉₉ (time required to preserve 99% of initial photovoltaic efficiency) of >2000 hours, implying that the 3D/2D bilayer inherits the intrinsic durability of 2D perovskite without compromising efficiency.

A Robust Neural Network for Extracting Dynamics from Electrostatic Force Microscopy Data

Advances in scanning probe microscopy (SPM) methods such as time-resolved electrostatic force microscopy (trEFM) now permit the mapping of fast local dynamic processes with high resolution in both space and time, but such methods can be time-consuming to analyze and calibrate. Here, we design and train a regression neural network (NN) that accelerates and simplifies the extraction of local dynamics from SPM data directly in a cantilever-independent manner, allowing the network to process data taken with different cantilevers. We validate the NN's ability to recover local dynamics with a fidelity equal to or surpassing conventional, more time-consuming, calibrations using both simulated and real microscopy data. We apply this method to extract accurate photoinduced carrier dynamics on n = 1 butylammonium lead iodide, a halide perovskite semiconductor film that is of interest for applications in both solar photovoltaics and quantum light sources. Finally, we use SHapley Additive exPlanations to evaluate the robustness of the trained model, confirm its cantilever-independence, and explore which parts of the trEFM signal are important to the network.

Lower limits for non-radiative recombination loss in organic donor/acceptor complexes

Understanding the factors controlling radiative and non-radiative transition rates for charge transfer states in organic systems is important for applications ranging from organic photovoltaics (OPV) to lasers and LEDs. We explore the role of charge-transfer (CT) energetics, lifetimes, and photovoltaic properties in the limit of very slow non-radiative rates by using a model donor/acceptor system with photoluminescence dominated by thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF). This blend exhibits an extremely high photoluminescence quantum efficiency (PLQY = ∼22%) and comparatively long PL lifetime, while simultaneously yielding appreciable amounts of free charge generation (photocurrent external quantum efficiency EQE of 24%). In solar cells, this blend exhibits non-radiative voltage losses of only ∼0.1 V, among the lowest reported for an organic system. Notably, we find that the non-radiative decay rate, k_nr, is on the order of 10⁵ s^-1, approximately 4-5 orders of magnitude slower than typical OPV blends, thereby confirming that high radiative efficiency and low non-radiative voltage losses are achievable by reducing k_nr. Furthermore, despite the high radiative efficiency and already comparatively slow k_nr, we find that k_nr is nevertheless much faster than predicted by Marcus-Levich-Jortner two-state theory and we conclude that CT-local exciton (LE) hybridization is present. Our findings highlight that it is crucial to evaluate how radiative and non-radiative rates of the LE states individually influence the PLQY of charge-transfer states, rather than solely focusing on the PLQY of the LE. This conclusion will guide material selection in achieving low non-radiative voltage loss in organic solar cells and high luminescence efficiency in organic LEDs.

Dilution effect for highly efficient multiple-component organic solar cells

Although the multiple-component (MC) blend strategy has been frequently used as a very effective way to improve the performance of organic solar cells (OSCs), there is a strong need to understand the fundamental working mechanism and material selection rule for achieving optimal MC-OSCs. Here we present the 'dilution effect' as the mechanism for MC-OSCs, where two highly miscible components are molecularly intermixed. Contrary to the aggregation-induced non-radiative decay, the dilution effect enables higher luminescence quantum efficiencies and open-circuit voltages (V_OC) in MC-OSCs via suppressed electron-vibration coupling. The continuously broadened bandgap together with reduced electron-vibration coupling also explains the composition-dependent V_OC in ternary blends well. Moreover, we show that electrons can transfer between different acceptors, depending on the energy offset between them, which contributes to the largely unperturbed charge transport and high fill factors in MC-OSCs. The discovery of the dilution effect enables the demonstration of a high power conversion efficiency of 18.31% in an MC-OSC.

Reversible Electrochemical Charging of n-Type Conjugated Polymer Electrodes in Aqueous Electrolytes

Conjugated polymers achieve redox activity in electrochemical devices by combining redox-active, electronically conducting backbones with ion-transporting side chains that can be tuned for different electrolytes. In aqueous electrolytes, redox activity can be accomplished by attaching hydrophilic side chains to the polymer backbone, which enables ionic transport and allows volumetric charging of polymer electrodes. While this approach has been beneficial for achieving fast electrochemical charging in aqueous solutions, little is known about the relationship between water uptake by the polymers during electrochemical charging and the stability and redox potentials of the electrodes, particularly for electron-transporting conjugated polymers. We find that excessive water uptake during the electrochemical charging of polymer electrodes harms the reversibility of electrochemical processes and results in irreversible swelling of the polymer. We show that small changes of the side chain composition can significantly increase the reversibility of the redox behavior of the materials in aqueous electrolytes, improving the capacity of the polymer by more than one order of magnitude. Finally, we show that tuning the local environment of the redox-active polymer by attaching hydrophilic side chains can help to reach high fractions of the theoretical capacity for single-phase electrodes in aqueous electrolytes. Our work shows the importance of chemical design strategies for achieving high electrochemical stability for conjugated polymers in aqueous electrolytes.

Dual-Stimuli Responsive Single-Chain Polymer Folding via Intrachain Complexation of Tetramethoxyazobenzene and β-Cyclodextrin

We synthesize and characterize a triblock polymer with asymmetric tetramethoxyazobenzene (TMAB) and β-cyclodextrin functionalization, taking advantage of the well-characterized azobenzene derivative-cyclodextrin inclusion complex to promote photoresponsive, self-contained folding of the polymer in an aqueous system. We use ¹H NMR to show the reversibility of (E)-to-(Z) and (Z)-to-(E) TMAB photoisomerization, and evaluate the thermal stability of (Z)-TMAB and the comparatively rapid acid-catalyzed thermal (Z)-to-(E) isomerization. Important for its potential use as a functional material, we show the photoisomerization cyclability of the polymeric TMAB chromophore and calculate isomerization quantum yields by extinction spectroscopy. To verify self-inclusion of the polymeric TMAB and cyclodextrin, we use two-dimensional ¹H NOESY NMR data to show proximity of TMAB and cyclodextrin in the (E)-state only; however, (Z)-TMAB is not locally correlated with cyclodextrin. Finally, the observed decrease in photoisomerization quantum yield for the dual-functionalized polymer compared to the isolated chromophore in an aqueous solution confirms TMAB and β-cyclodextrin not only are in proximity to one another, but also form the inclusion complex.

Importance of Substrate-Particle Repulsion for Protein-Templated Assembly of Metal Nanoparticles

We study the protein-directed assembly of colloidal gold nanoparticles on de novo designed protein nanofiber templates. Using sequential assembly on glass substrates, we attach positively charged gold nanoparticles to protein nanofibers engineered to have a high density of negatively charged surface residues. Using a combination of electron and optical microscopy, we measure the density of particle attachment and characterize binding specificity. By varying nanoparticle size and pH of the solution, we explore the importance of charge-dependent particle-fiber and particle-substrate interactions. We find an inverse correlation between particle size and attachment density to protein nanofibers, attributed to the balance between size-dependent electrostatic particle-fiber attraction and particle-substrate repulsion. We show pH-dependent particle attachment density and binding specificity in relation to the protonation fraction of each assembly layer. Finally, we employ hyperspectral scattering microscopy to draw conclusions about particle density and interparticle spacings of optically observable particle assemblies.

Nanowire Architectures Improve Ion Uptake Kinetics in Conjugated Polymer Electrochemical Transistors

Organic electrochemical transistors are believed to face an inherent material design tension between optimizing for ion mobility and for electronic mobility. These devices transduce ion uptake into electrical current, thereby requiring high ion mobility for efficient electrochemical doping and rapid turn-on kinetics and high electronic mobility for the maximum transconductance. Here, we explore a facile route to improve operational kinetics and volumetric capacitance in a high-mobility conjugated polymer (poly[2,5-(2-octyldodecyl)-3,6-diketopyrrolopyrrole-alt-5,5-(2,5-di(thien-2-yl)thieno [3,2-b]thiophene)], DPP-DTT) by employing a nanowire morphology. For equivalent thicknesses, the DPP-DTT nanowire films exhibit consistently faster kinetics (∼6-10× faster) compared to a neat DPP-DTT film. The nanowire architectures show ∼4× higher volumetric capacitance, increasing from 7.1 to 27.7 F/cm³, consistent with the porous structure better enabling ion uptake throughout the film. The nanowires also exhibit a small but energetically favorable shift in a threshold voltage of ∼17 mV, making the nanostructured system both faster and energetically easier to electrochemically dope compared to neat films. We explain the variation using two atomic force microscopy methods: in situ electrochemical strain microscopy and nanoinfrared imaging via photoinduced force microscopy. These data show that the nanowire film's structure allows greater swelling and ion uptake throughout the active layer, indicating that the nanowire architecture exhibits volumetric operation, whereas the neat film is largely operating via the field effect. We propose that for higher-mobility materials, casting the active layer in a nanowire form may offer faster kinetics, enhanced volumetric capacitance, and possibly lower threshold voltage while maintaining desirable device performance.

Tuning Hybrid exciton-Photon Fano Resonances in Two-Dimensional Organic-Inorganic Perovskite Thin Films

As easy-to-grow quantum wells with narrow excitonic features at room temperature, two-dimensional (2D) Ruddleson-Popper perovskites are promising for realizing novel nanophotonic devices based on exciton-photon interactions. Here, we demonstrate a distinct hybrid exciton-photon Fano resonance in (C₄H₉NH₃)₂PbI₄ thin films prepared via spin coating. Using a classical coupled-oscillator model and finite-difference time-domain simulations, we link the Fano interference to the coupling of the exciton with the Rayleigh-like scattering of the film microstructure. Combining colloidal plasmonic cavities with the 2D perovskite films, we demonstrate tuning of the Fano resonance. In combination with silver nanoparticles, the exciton-photon Fano interference couples to the in-plane plasmonic modes with indications of Rabi splitting. By creating a nanoparticle on mirror geometry, we address the out-of-plane excitonic component, reaching an intermediate coupling regime. These structures suggest possible photonic targets for biomolecular self-assembly applications.

Alignment of Au nanorods along de novo designed protein nanofibers studied with automated image analysis

In this study, we focus on exploring the directional assembly of anisotropic Au nanorods along de novo designed 1D protein nanofiber templates. Using machine learning and automated image processing, we analyze scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images to study how the attachment density and alignment fidelity are influenced by variables such as the aspect ratio of the Au nanorods, and the salt concentration of the solution. We find that the Au nanorods prefer to align parallel to the protein nanofibers. This preference decreases with increasing salt concentration, but is only weakly sensitive to the nanorod aspect ratio. While the overall specific Au nanorod attachment density to the protein fibers increases with increasing solution ionic strength, this increase is dominated primarily by non-specific binding to the substrate background, and we find that greater specific attachment (nanorods attached to the nanofiber template as compared to the substrates) occurs at the lower studied salt concentrations, with the maximum ratio of specific to non-specific binding occurring when the protein fiber solutions are prepared in 75 mM NaCl concentration.

Imaging Graphene Moiré Superlattices via Scanning Kelvin Probe Microscopy

Moiré superlattices in van der Waals heterostructures are gaining increasing attention because they offer new opportunities to tailor and explore unique electronic phenomena. Using a combination of lateral piezoresponse force microscopy (LPFM) and scanning Kelvin probe microscopy (SKPM), we directly correlate ABAB and ABCA stacked graphene with local surface potential. We find that the surface potential of the ABCA domains is ∼15 mV higher (smaller work function) than that of the ABAB domains. First-principles calculations show that the different work functions between ABCA and ABAB domains arise from the stacking-dependent electronic structure. Moreover, while the moiré superlattice visualized by LPFM can change with time, imaging the surface potential distribution via SKPM appears more stable, enabling the mapping of ABAB and ABCA domains without tip-sample contact-induced effects. Our results provide a new means to visualize and probe local domain stacking in moiré superlattices along with its impact on electronic properties.

Bismuth Doping Alters Structural Phase Transitions in Methylammonium Lead Tribromide Single Crystals

We study the effects of bismuth doping on the crystal structure and phase transitions in single crystals of the perovskite semiconductor methylammonium lead tribromide, MAPbBr₃. By measuring the temperature-dependent specific heat capacity (C_p), we find that as the Bi doping increases, the phase transition assigned to the cubic to tetragonal phase boundary decreases in temperature. Furthermore, after doping we observe one phase transition between 135 and 155 K, in contrast to two transitions observed in the undoped single crystal. These results appear strikingly similar to previously reported effects of mechanical pressure on perovskite crystal structure. Using X-ray diffraction, we show that the lattice constant decreases as Bi is incorporated into the crystal, as predicted by density functional theory. We propose that bismuth substitutional doping on the lead site is dominant, resulting in Bi_Pb⁺ centers that induce compressive chemical strain that alters the crystalline phase transitions.

Ion Exchange Gels Allow Organic Electrochemical Transistor Operation with Hydrophobic Polymers in Aqueous Solution

Conjugated-polymer-based organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) are being studied for applications ranging from biochemical sensing to neural interfaces. While new polymers that interface digital electronics with the aqueous chemistry of life are being developed, the majority of high-performance organic transistor materials are poor at transporting biologically relevant ions. Here, the operating mode of an organic transistor is changed from that of an electrolyte-gated organic field-effect transistor (EGOFET) to that of an OECT by incorporating an ion exchange gel between the active layer and the aqueous electrolyte. This device works by taking up biologically relevant ions from solution and injecting more hydrophobic ions into the active layer. Using poly[2,5-bis(3-tetradecylthiophen-2-yl) thieno[3,2-b]thiophene] as the active layer and a blend of an ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, and poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) as the ion exchange gel, four orders of magnitude improvement in device transconductance and a 100-fold increase in kinetics are demonstrated. The ability of the ion-exchange-gel OECT to record biological signals by measuring the action potentials of a Venus flytrap is demonstrated. These results show the possibility of using interface engineering to open up a wider palette of organic semiconductors as OECTs that can be gated by aqueous solutions.

Generalizable Framework for Algorithmic Interpretation of Thin Film Morphologies in Scanning Probe Images

We describe an open-source and widely adaptable Python library that recognizes morphological features and domains in images collected via scanning probe microscopy. π-Conjugated polymers (CPs) are ideal for evaluating the Materials Morphology Python (m2py) library because of their wide range of morphologies and feature sizes. Using thin films of nanostructured CPs, we demonstrate the functionality of a general m2py workflow. We apply numerical methods to enhance the signals collected by the scanning probe, followed by Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to reduce the dimensionality of the data. Then, a Gaussian Mixture Model segments every pixel in the image into phases, which have similar material-property signals. Finally, the phase-labeled pixels are grouped and labeled as morphological domains using either connected components labeling or persistence watershed segmentation. These tools are adaptable to any scanning probe measurement, so the labels that m2py generates will allow researchers to individually address and analyze the identified domains in the image. This level of control, allows one to describe the morphology of the system using quantitative and statistical descriptors such as the size, distribution, and shape of the domains. Such descriptors will enable researchers to quantitatively track and compare differences within and between samples.

Maximizing the external radiative efficiency of hybrid perovskite solar cells

Despite rapid advancements in power conversion efficiency in the last decade, perovskite solar cells still perform below their thermodynamic efficiency limits. Non-radiative recombination, in particular, has limited the external radiative efficiency and open circuit voltage in the highest performing devices. We review the historical progress in enhancing perovskite external radiative efficiency and determine key strategies for reaching high optoelectronic quality. Specifically, we focus on non-radiative recombination within the perovskite layer and highlight novel approaches to reduce energy losses at interfaces and through parasitic absorption. By strategically targeting defects, it is likely that the next set of record-performing devices with ultra-low voltage losses will be achieved.

Suppressing Efficiency Roll-Off at High Current Densities for Ultra-Bright Green Perovskite Light-Emitting Diodes

Perovskite light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs) have undergone rapid development in the last several years with external quantum efficiencies (EQEs) reaching over 21%. However, most PeLEDs still suffer from severe efficiency roll-off (droop) at high injection current densities, thus limiting their achievable brightness and presenting a challenge to their use in laser diode applications. In this work, we show that the roll-off characteristics of PeLEDs are affected by a combination of charge injection imbalance, nonradiative Auger recombination, and Joule heating. To realize ultrabright and efficient PeLEDs, several strategies have been applied. First, we designed an energy ladder to balance the electron and hole transport. Second, we optimized perovskite materials to possess reduced Auger recombination rates and improved carrier mobility. Third, we replaced glass substrates with sapphire substrates to better dissipate joule heat. Finally, by applying a current-focusing architecture, we achieved PeLEDs with a record luminance of 7.6 Mcd/m². The devices can be operated at very high current densities (J) up to ∼1 kA/cm². Our work suggests a broad application prospect of perovskite materials for high-brightness LEDs and ultimately a potential for solution-processed electrically pumped laser diodes.

Fullerene Active Layers for n-Type Organic Electrochemical Transistors

Organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) are currently being developed for applications ranging from bioelectronics to neuromorphic computing. We show that fullerene derivatives with glycolated side chains can serve as n-type active layers for OECTs with figures of merit exceeding the best reported conjugated-polymer-based n-type OECTs. By comparing two different fullerene derivatives, [6,6]-phenyl-C₆₁-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) and 2-(2,3,4-tris(methoxtriglycol) phenyl) [60]fulleropyrrolidine (C60-TEG), we find that the hydrophilic glycolated side chains in C60-TEG enable volumetric doping of C60-TEG films. In contrast, the hydrophobic nature of PCBM prevents ions from penetrating into the material. Our results demonstrate that small-molecule semiconductors follow many of the same design principles established for conjugated polymers and can function as high-performing mixed electronic/ionic conductors for efficient, fast OECTs.

Time-Resolved Electrical Scanning Probe Microscopy of Layered Perovskites Reveals Spatial Variations in Photoinduced Ionic and Electronic Carrier Motion

We study light-induced dynamics in thin films comprising Ruddlesden-Popper phases of the layered 2D perovskite (C₄H₉NH₃)₂PbI₄. We probe ionic and electronic carrier dynamics using two complementary scanning probe methods, time-resolved G-mode Kelvin probe force microscopy and fast free time-resolved electrostatic force microscopy, as a function of position, time, and illumination. We show that the average surface photovoltage sign is dominated by the band bending at the buried perovskite-substrate interface. However, the film exhibits substantial variations in the spatial and temporal response of the photovoltage. Under illumination, the photovoltage equilibrates over hundreds of microseconds, a time scale associated with ionic motion and trapped electronic carriers. Surprisingly, we observe that the surface photovoltage of the 2D grain centers evolves more rapidly in time than at the grain boundaries. We propose that the slower evolution at grain boundaries is due to a combination of ion migration occurring between PbI₄ planes, as well as electronic carriers traversing grain boundary traps, thereby changing the time-dependent band unbending at grain boundaries. These results provide a model for the photoinduced dynamics in 2D perovskites and are a useful basis for interpreting photovoltage dynamics on hybrid 2D/3D structures.

Noncontact Imaging of Ion Dynamics in Polymer Electrolytes with Time-Resolved Electrostatic Force Microscopy

Ionic-transport processes govern performance in many classic and emerging devices, ranging from battery storage to modern mixed-conduction organic electrochemical transistors (OECT). Here, we study local ion-transport dynamics in polymer films using time-resolved electrostatic force microscopy (trEFM). We establish a correspondence between local and macroscopic measurements using local trEFM and macroscopic electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). We use polymer films doped with lithium bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide (LiTFSI) as a model system where the polymer backbone has oxanorbornenedicarboximide repeat units with an oligomeric ethylene oxide side chain of length n. Our results show that the local polymer response measured in the time domain with trEFM follows stretched-exponential relaxation kinetics, consistent with the Havriliak-Negami relaxation we measure in the frequency-domain EIS data for macroscopic samples of the same polymers. Furthermore, we show that the trEFM results capture the same trends as the EIS results-changes in ion dynamics with increasing temperature, increasing salt concentration, and increasing volume fraction of ethylene oxide side chains in the polymer matrix evolve with the same trends in both measurement techniques. We conclude from this correlation that trEFM data reflect, at the nanoscale, the same ionic processes probed in conventional EIS at the device level. Finally, as an example application for emerging materials syntheses, we use trEFM and infrared photoinduced force microscopy (PiFM) to image a diblock copolymer electrolyte for next-generation solid-state energy storage applications.

Long-Lived, Non-Geminate, Radiative Recombination of Photogenerated Charges in a Polymer/Small-Molecule Acceptor Photovoltaic Blend

Minimization of open-circuit-voltage ( V_OC) loss is required to transcend the efficiency limitations on the performance of organic photovoltaics (OPV). We study charge recombination in an OPV blend comprising a polymer donor with a small molecule nonfullerene acceptor that exhibits both high photovoltaic internal quantum efficiency and relatively high external electroluminescence quantum efficiency. Notably, this donor/acceptor blend, consisting of the donor polymer commonly referred to as PCE10 with a pseudoplanar small molecule acceptor (referred to as FIDTT-2PDI) exhibits relatively bright delayed photoluminescence on the microsecond time scale beyond that observed in the neat material. We study the photoluminescence decay kinetics of the blend in detail and conclude that this long-lived photoluminescence arises from radiative nongeminate recombination of charge carriers, which we propose occurs via a donor/acceptor CT state located close in energy to the singlet state of the polymer donor. Additionally, crystallographic and spectroscopic studies point toward low subgap disorder, which could be beneficial for low radiative and nonradiative losses. These results provide an important demonstration of photoluminescence due to nongeminate charge recombination in an efficient OPV blend, a key step in identifying new OPV materials and materials-screening criteria if OPV is to approach the theoretical limits to efficiency.

Identifying Nanoscale Structure-Function Relationships Using Multimodal Atomic Force Microscopy, Dimensionality Reduction, and Regression Techniques

Correlating nanoscale chemical specificity with operational physics is a long-standing goal of functional scanning probe microscopy (SPM). We employ a data analytic approach combining multiple microscopy modes using compositional information in infrared vibrational excitation maps acquired via photoinduced force microscopy (PiFM) with electrical information from conductive atomic force microscopy. We study a model polymer blend comprising insulating poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and semiconducting poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT). We show that PiFM spectra are different from FTIR spectra but can still be used to identify local composition. We use principal component analysis to extract statistically significant principal components and principal component regression to predict local current and identify local polymer composition. In doing so, we observe evidence of semiconducting P3HT within PMMA aggregates. These methods are generalizable to correlated SPM data and provide a meaningful technique for extracting complex compositional information that is impossible to measure from any one technique.

The Role of Excitation Energy in Photobrightening and Photodegradation of Halide Perovskite Thin Films

We study the impact of excitation energy on the photostability of methylammonium lead triiodide (CH₃NH₃PbI₃ or MAPI) perovskite thin films. Light soaking leads to a transient increase of the photoluminescence efficiency at excitation wavelengths longer than 520 nm, whereas light-induced degradation occurs when exciting the films with wavelengths shorter than 520 nm. X-ray diffraction and extinction measurements reveal the light-induced decomposition of CH₃NH₃PbI₃ to lead iodide (PbI₂) for the high-energy excitation regime. We propose a model explaining the energy dependence of the photostability that involves the photoexcitation of residual PbI₂ species in the perovskite triggering the decomposition of CH₃NH₃PbI₃.

Optical Properties of Reconfigurable Polymer/Silver Nanoprism Hybrids: Tunable Color and Infrared Scattering Contrast

We synthesize and characterize stimulus-responsive nanocomposites consisting of poly( N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) with controlled loadings of anisotropic plate-like silver nanoprisms. These composites show strong, reversible switching of their optical extinction and scattering properties in response to temperature cycling. We use UV-vis-NIR spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering to characterize the hybrids and show that the loading density of the silver nanoprisms in the polymer and the size of the nanoprisms are both factors that can be used to tailor the optical response of the composites, extending the range of colors beyond that previously reported with PNIPAM/plasmonic nanoparticle composites. These PNIPAM/silver nanoprism hybrids exhibit thermochromic shifts that are 5-10 times larger than those typically reported for similar structures of PNIPAM composites with silver nanoparticles of a comparable range of loading density. In addition, we show that these composites can exhibit very large ratiometric changes in scattering in the NIR, which could open applications for related materials in thermal management and NIR labeling and taggants.

Biexciton Auger Recombination Differs in Hybrid and Inorganic Halide Perovskite Quantum Dots

We use time-resolved photoluminescence measurements to determine the biexciton Auger recombination rate in both hybrid organic-inorganic and fully inorganic halide perovskite nanocrystals as a function of nanocrystal volume. We find that the volume scaling of the biexciton Auger rate in the hybrid perovskites, containing a polar organic A-site cation, is significantly shallower than in the fully inorganic Cs-based nanocrystals. As the nanocrystals become smaller, the Auger rate in the hybrid nanocrystals increases even less than expected, compared to the fully inorganic nanocrystals, which already show a shallower volume dependence than other material systems such as chalcogenide quantum dots. This finding suggests there may be differences in the strength of Coulombic interactions between the fully inorganic and hybrid perovskites, which may prove to be crucial in selecting materials to obtain the highest performing devices in the future, and hints that there could be something "special" about the hybrid materials.

Tracking Photoexcited Carriers in Hybrid Perovskite Semiconductors: Trap-Dominated Spatial Heterogeneity and Diffusion

We use correlated confocal and wide-field fluorescence microscopy to probe the interplay between local variations in charge carrier recombination and charge carrier transport in methylammonium lead triiodide perovskite thin films. We find that local photoluminescence variations present in confocal imaging are also observed in wide-field imaging, while intensity-dependent confocal measurements show that the heterogeneity in nonradiative losses observed at low excitation powers becomes less pronounced at higher excitation powers. Both confocal and wide-field images show that carriers undergo anisotropic diffusion due to differences in intergrain connectivity. These data are all qualitatively consistent with trap-dominated variations in local photoluminescence intensity and with grain boundaries that exhibit varying degrees of opacity to carrier transport. We use a two-dimensional kinetic model to simulate and compare confocal time-resolved photoluminescence decay traces with experimental data. The simulations further support the assignment of local variations in nonradiative recombination as the primary cause of photoluminescence heterogeneity in the films studied herein. These results point to surface passivation and intergrain connectivity as areas that could yield improvements in perovskite solar cells and optoelectronic device performance.

Polymer-modified halide perovskite films for efficient and stable planar heterojunction solar cells

The solution processing of polycrystalline perovskite films introduces trap states that can adversely affect their optoelectronic properties. Motivated by the use of small-molecule surfactants to improve the optoelectronic performance of perovskites, we demonstrate the use of polymers with coordinating groups to improve the performance of solution-processed semiconductor films. The use of these polymer modifiers results in a marked change in the electronic properties of the films, as measured by both carrier dynamics and overall device performance. The devices grown with the polymer poly(4-vinylpyridine) (PVP) show significantly enhanced power conversion efficiency from 16.9 ± 0.7% to 18.8 ± 0.8% (champion efficiency, 20.2%) from a reverse scan and stabilized champion efficiency from 17.5 to 19.1% [under a bias of 0.94 V and AM (air mass) 1.5-G, 1-sun illumination over 30 min] compared to controls without any passivation. Treating the perovskite film with PVP enables a V_OC of up to 1.16 V, which is among the best reported for a CH₃NH₃PbI₃ perovskite solar cell and one of the lowest voltage deficits reported for any perovskite to date. In addition, perovskite solar cells treated with PVP show a long shelf lifetime of up to 90 days (retaining 85% of the initial efficiency) and increased by a factor of more than 20 compared to those without any polymer (degrading to 85% after ~4 days). Our work opens up a new class of chemical additives for improving perovskite performance and should pave the way toward improving perovskite solar cells for high efficiency and stability.

Electrical Detection of Quantum Dot Hot Electrons Generated via a Mn2+-Enhanced Auger Process

An all-solid-state quantum-dot-based photon-to-current conversion device is demonstrated that selectively detects the generation of hot electrons. Photoexcitation of Mn²⁺-doped CdS quantum dots embedded in the device is followed by efficient picosecond energy transfer to Mn²⁺ with a long-lived (millisecond) excited-state lifetime. Electrons injected into the QDs under applied bias then capture this energy via Auger de-excitation, generating hot electrons that possess sufficient energy to escape over a ZnS blocking layer, thereby producing current. This electrically detected hot-electron generation is correlated with a quench in the steady-state Mn²⁺ luminescence and the introduction of a new nonradiative excited-state decay process, consistent with electron-dopant Auger cross-relaxation. The device's efficiency at detecting hot-electron generation provides a model platform for the study of hot-electron ionization relevant to the development of novel photodetectors and alternative energy-conversion devices.

Subpicosecond Photon-Energy-Dependent Hole Transfer from PbS Quantum Dots to Conjugated Polymers

We use transient absorption (TA) spectroscopy to study the origin of photon-energy dependent hole transfer yields in blends of PbS quantum dots with the conjugated polymer poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT). We selectively excite only the quantum dots at two different wavelengths and measure the polymer ground state bleach resulting from the transfer of photoexcited holes. The higher photon-energy pump shows a greater prompt yield of hole transfer compared to the lower photon-energy excitation, on time scales sufficient to out-compete hot carrier cooling in lead chalcogenide quantum dots. We interpret the results as evidence that the excess energy of nonthermalized, or "hot," excitons resulting from higher photon-energy excitation allows more efficient charge transfer to the polymer in these systems. The data also demonstrate slow charge transfer rates, up to ∼1 ns, of the relaxed excitations on the PbS dots. These findings help to clarify the role of excess photon energy and carrier relaxation dynamics on free carrier generation in donor/acceptor solar cells.

Anticorrelation between Local Photoluminescence and Photocurrent Suggests Variability in Contact to Active Layer in Perovskite Solar Cells

We use high-resolution, spatially resolved, laser beam induced current, confocal photoluminescence, and photoconductive atomic force microscopy (pcAFM) measurements to correlate local solar cell performance with spatially heterogeneous local material properties in methylammonium lead triiodide (CH₃NH₃PbI₃) perovskite solar cells. We find that, for this material and device architecture, the photocurrent heterogeneity measured via pcAFM on devices missing a top selective contact with traditional Au-coated tips is significantly larger than the photocurrent heterogeneity observed in full devices with both electron- and hole-selective extraction layers, indicating that extraction barriers at the Au/perovskite interface are ameliorated by deposition of the organic charge extraction layer. Nevertheless, in completed, efficient device structures (PCE ≈ 16%) with state-of-the-art nickel oxide and [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid (PCBM) methyl ester contacts, we observe that the local photoluminescence (PL) is weakly anticorrelated with local photocurrent at both short-circuit and open-circuit conditions. We determine that the contact materials are fairly homogeneous; thus the heterogeneity stems from the perovskite itself. We suggest a cause for the anticorrelation as being related to local carrier extraction heterogeneity. However, we find that the contacts are still the dominating source of losses in these devices, which minimizes the impact of the material heterogeneity on device performance at present. These results suggest that further steps to prevent recombination losses at the interfaces are needed to help perovskite-based cells approach theoretical efficiency limits; only at this point will material heterogeneity become crucial.

Functional Scanning Probe Imaging of Nanostructured Solar Energy Materials

From hybrid perovskites to semiconducting polymer/fullerene blends for organic photovoltaics, many new materials being explored for energy harvesting and storage exhibit performance characteristics that depend sensitively on their nanoscale morphology. At the same time, rapid advances in the capability and accessibility of scanning probe microscopy methods over the past decade have made it possible to study processing/structure/function relationships ranging from photocurrent collection to photocarrier lifetimes with resolutions on the scale of tens of nanometers or better. Importantly, such scanning probe methods offer the potential to combine measurements of local structure with local function, and they can be implemented to study materials in situ or devices in operando to better understand how materials evolve in time in response to an external stimulus or environmental perturbation. This Account highlights recent advances in the development and application of scanning probe microscopy methods that can help address such questions while filling key gaps between the capabilities of conventional electron microscopy and newer super-resolution optical methods. Focusing on semiconductor materials for solar energy applications, we highlight a range of electrical and optoelectronic scanning probe microscopy methods that exploit the local dynamics of an atomic force microscope tip to probe key properties of the solar cell material or device structure. We discuss how it is possible to extract relevant device properties using noncontact scanning probe methods as well as how these properties guide materials development. Specifically, we discuss intensity-modulated scanning Kelvin probe microscopy (IM-SKPM), time-resolved electrostatic force microscopy (trEFM), frequency-modulated electrostatic force microscopy (FM-EFM), and cantilever ringdown imaging. We explain these developments in the context of classic atomic force microscopy (AFM) methods that exploit the physics of cantilever motion and photocarrier generation to provide robust, nanoscale measurements of materials physics that are correlated with device operation. We predict that the multidimensional data sets made possible by these types of methods will become increasingly important as advances in data science expand capabilities and opportunities for image correlation and discovery.