Phase segregation is a critical phenomenon that influences the stability and performance of mixed halide perovskite based opto-electronic devices. In addition to the underlying physical mechanisms, the spatial pattern and randomness associated with the nanoscale morphology of phase segregation significantly influence performance degradation a topic which, along with the multitude of parameter combinations, has remained too complex to address so far. Given this, with MAPbI1.5Br1.5 as a model system, here we address the influence of critical factors like the spatial randomness of phase segregation, influence of ion migration, and the effect of increased non radiative recombination at material interfaces. Interestingly, our analytical model and detailed statistical simulations indicate a unique trend morphology evolution with increased phase segregation results, surprisingly, in a recovery in efficiency while non-radiative recombination at grain/domain boundaries results in efficiency degradation. Further, our quantitative and predictive estimates identify critical parameters for interface states beyond which device variability could be an important system level bottleneck. Indeed, these estimates are broadly applicable to systems which undergo phase segregation and have interesting implications to perovskite based optoelectronic devices from stability concerns to engineering approaches that attempt to arrest phase segregation.
Contrary to the common belief that light-induced halide ion segregation in a mixed halide al-loy occurs within the illuminated area, we find that the Br ions released by light diffuse away from the area, which generates a counter-balancing Coulombic force between the anion deficit and surplus region, together resulting in a macro/mesoscopic size anion ring surrounding the center, showing a photoluminescence ring. Upon removing the illumination, the displaced anions return to the illuminated area, and the restoring force leads to a damped ultra-low-frequency oscillatory ion motion, which may be…
Mixed-halide based hybrid perovskite semiconductors have attracted tremendous attention as a promising candidate for high efficient photovoltaic and light-emitting devices. However, these advanced perovskite materials may undergo phase segregation under light illumination due to halide ion migration, affecting their optoelectronic properties. Here, we report photo-excitation induced phase segregation in triple-cation mixed-halide perovskite films that yields to red-shift in photoluminescence response. We demonstrate that photo-excitation induced halide ion migration leads to the formation of s…
Photo- and charge-carrier induced ion migration is a major challenge when utilizing metal halide perovskite semiconductors for optoelectronic applications. For mixed iodide/bromide perovskites, the compositional instability due to light- or electrical bias induced phase- segregation restricts the exploitation of the entire bandgap range. Previous experimental and theoretical work suggests that excited states or charge-carriers trigger the process but the exact mechanism is still under debate. To identify the mechanism and cause of light-induced phase-segregation phenomena we investigate the fu…
The bandgap tunability of mixed-halide perovskites makes them promising candidates for light emitting diodes and tandem solar cells. However, illuminating mixed-halide perovskites results in the formation of segregated phases enriched in a single-halide. This segregation occurs through ion migration, which is also observed in single-halide compositions, and whose control is thus essential to enhance the lifetime and stability. Using pressure-dependent transient absorption spectroscopy, we find that the formation rates of both iodide- and bromide-rich phases in MAPb(BrxI1-x)3 reduce by two orde…
Metal-halide perovskites are a versatile material platform for light-harvesting and light-emitting applications as their variable chemical composition allows the optoelectronic properties to be tailored to specific applications. Halide mixing is one of the most powerful techniques to tune the optical bandgap of metal-halide perovskites across wide spectral ranges. However, halide mixing has commonly been observed to result in phase segregation, which reduces excited-state transport and limits device performance. While the current emphasis lies on the development of strategies to prevent phase …
Quantitative Analysis of Light Induced Ion Segregation in Mixed-Halide Perovskites
Charles University（查理大学）；Czech Technical University in Prague（捷克布拉格工业大学）；Masaryk University（马萨里克大学）；Institute of Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences（捷克科学院物理研究所）
Under continuous light illumination, it is known that localized domains with segregated halide compositions form in semiconducting mixed-halide perovskites, thus severely limiting their optoelectronic applications due to the negative changes in bandgap energies and charge-carrier characteristics. Here we deposit mixed-halide perovskite CsPbBr1.2I1.8 nanocrystals onto an indium tin oxide substrate, whose temperature can be rapidly changed by ~10 degree in a few seconds by applying or removing an external voltage. Such a sudden temperature change induces a temporary transition of CsPbBr1.2I1.8 n…
We developed a generalized model that considers light as energy contributed through the thermalization of excited carriers to generate excitation-intensity- and temperature-dependent phase diagrams. We find that the model replicates the light-induced phase segregation behavior of the MAPb(I,Br)3 system. From there, we sought to study how best to design new, stable, mixed-halide alloys. The resultant first-principles predictions show that the pseudo halide anion BF4- suppresses phase segregation in FA0.83Cs0.17Pb(I0.6Br0.4)3, resulting in enhanced operating stability. The findings reveal that p…
Photo-induced phase-segregation in mixed halide perovskite MAPb(BrxI1-x)3 is investigated in the full compositional range by correlative X-ray diffraction and photo-luminescence experiments.
Mixing halides in metal halide perovskites (MHPs) is an effective approach to adjust MHPs bandgap for applications in tandem solar cells. However, mixed-halide (MH-) MHPs undergo light-induced-phase-segregation (LIPS) under continuous illumination. Therefore, understanding the mechanism of LIPS is necessary for developing stable MH-MHPs. In this work, we investigated LIPS in layered (L) MHPs and discovered a critical role of spacer cations in LIPS. Through probing chemical changes of LIPS, we unveil light-induced-iodide-repulsion and the formation of Br-rich-phase in illuminated regions during…
Antisolvent crystallization methods are frequently used to fabricate high-quality perovskite thin films, to produce sizable single crystals, and to synthesize nanoparticles at room temperature. However, a systematic exploration of the effect of specific antisolvents on the intrinsic stability of multicomponent metal halide perovskites has yet to be demonstrated. Here, we develop a high-throughput experimental workflow that incorporates chemical robotic synthesis, automated characterization, and machine learning techniques to explore how the choice of antisolvent affects the intrinsic stability…
Migration of halogen vacancies is one of the primary sources of phase segregation and material degradation in lead-halide perovskites. Here we use first principles density functional theory to compare migration energy barriers and paths of bromine vacancies in the bulk and at a (001) surface of cubic CsPbBr$_3$. Our calculations indicate that surfaces might facilitate bromine vacancy migration in these perovskites, due to their soft structure that allows for bond lengths variations larger than in the bulk. We calculate the migration energy for axial-to-axial bromine vacancy migration at the su…
Metal halide perovskites are attracting tremendous interest for a variety of optoelectronic applications. The ability to tune the perovskite bandgap by tweaking the chemical compositions opens up new applications as coloured emitters and as components of tandem photovoltaics. Nevertheless, non-radiative losses are still limiting performance, with luminescence yields in state-of-the-art perovskite solar cells still far from 100% under solar illumination conditions. Furthermore, in mixed halide perovskite systems designed for continuous bandgap tunability (bandgaps ~1.7-1.9 eV), photo-induced io…
Nanoscale investigations by scanning probe microscopy have provided major contributions to the rapid development of organic-inorganic halide perovskites (OIHP) as optoelectronic devices. Further improvement of device level properties requires a deeper understanding of the performance-limiting mechanisms such as ion migration, phase segregation and their effects on charge extraction both at the nano- and macroscale. Here, we have studied the dynamic electrical response of Cs0.05(FA0.83-MA0.17)0.95PbI3-xBrx perovskite structures by employing conventional and microsecond time-resolved Kelvin prob…
The performance of organometallic perovskite solar cells has rapidly surpassed that of both conventional dye-sensitised and organic photovoltaics. High power conversion efficiency can be realised in both mesoporous and thin-film device architectures. We address the origin of this success in the context of the materials chemistry and physics of the bulk perovskite as described by electronic structure calculations. In addition to the basic optoelectronic properties essential for an efficient photovoltaic device (spectrally suitable band gap, high optical absorption, low carrier effective masses)…
