Hybrid organic-inorganic semiconductors feature complex lattice dynamics due to the ionic character of the crystal and the softness arising from non-covalent bonds between molecular moieties and the ...inorganic network. Here we establish that such dynamic structural complexity in a prototypical two-dimensional lead iodide perovskite gives rise to the coexistence of diverse excitonic resonances, each with a distinct degree of polaronic character. By means of high-resolution resonant impulsive stimulated Raman spectroscopy, we identify vibrational wavepacket dynamics that evolve along different configurational coordinates for distinct excitons and photocarriers. Employing density functional theory calculations, we assign the observed coherent vibrational modes to various low-frequency (≲50 cm
) optical phonons involving motion in the lead iodide layers. We thus conclude that different excitons induce specific lattice reorganizations, which are signatures of polaronic binding. This insight into the energetic/configurational landscape involving globally neutral primary photoexcitations may be relevant to a broader class of emerging hybrid semiconductor materials.
While polarons, charges bound to a lattice deformation induced by electron–phonon coupling, are primary photoexcitations in bulk metal-halide hybrid organic–inorganic perovskites (HOIPs), excitons, ...Coulomb-bound electron–hole pairs, are the stable quasi-particles in their two-dimensional (2D) analogues. However, are polaronic effects consequential for excitons in 2D-HOIPs? We argue that they are manifested intrinsically in the exciton spectral structure, which is composed of multiple nondegenerate resonances with constant interpeak energy spacing. We highlight population and dephasing dynamics that point to the apparently deterministic role of polaronic effects. We contend that an interplay of long-range and short-range exciton–lattice couplings gives rise to exciton polarons, which fundamentally establishes their effective mass and radius and, consequently, their quantum dynamics. Finally, we highlight opportunities for the community to develop the rigorous description of exciton polarons in 2D-HOIPs to advance their fundamental understanding as model systems for condensed-phase materials with strong lattice-mediated correlations.
We report about the relationship between the morphology and luminescence properties of methylammonium lead trihalide perovskite thin films. By tuning the average crystallite dimension in the film ...from tens of nanometers to a few micrometers, we are able to tune the optical band gap of the material along with its photoluminescence lifetime. We demonstrate that larger crystallites present smaller band gap and longer lifetime, which correlates to a smaller radiative bimolecular recombination coefficient. We also show that they present a higher optical gain, becoming preferred candidates for the realization of CW lasing devices.
Since the first reports on high efficiency, solution processed solar cells based on hybrid lead halide perovskites, there has been an explosion of activities on these materials. Researchers with ...interests spanning the full range from conventional inorganic to emerging organic and hybrid optoelectronic technologies have been contributing to the prolific research output. This has led to solar cell power conversion efficiencies now exceeding 20% and the demonstration of proofs of concept for electroluminescent and lasing devices. Hybrid perovskites can be self-assembled by a simple chemical deposition of the constituent units, with the possibility of integrating the useful properties of organic and inorganic compounds at the molecular scale within a single crystalline material, thus enabling a fine-tuning of the electronic properties. Tellingly, the fundamental properties of these materials may make us think of a new, solution processable, GaAs-like semiconductor. While this can be true to a first approximation, hybrid perovskites are intrinsically complex materials, where the presence of various types of interactions and structural disorder may strongly affect their properties. In particular, a clear understanding and control of the relative interactions between the organic and inorganic moieties is of paramount importance to properly disentangle their innate physics. In this Account we review our recent studies which aim to clarify the relationship between structural and electronic properties from a molecular to mesoscopic level. First we identify the markers for local disorder at the molecular level by using Raman spectroscopy as a probe. Then, we exploit such a tool to explore the role of microstructure on the absorption and luminescence properties of the semiconductor. Finally we address the controversy surrounding electron–hole interactions and excitonic effects. We show that in hybrid lead-halide perovskites dielectric screening also depends on the local microstructure of the hybrid crystals and not only on its chemical composition. This leads to the possibility of band gap engineering and the consequent control of the elementary photoexcitation dynamics that determine the perovskites’ performances in different optoelectronic devices.
Only a selected group of two-dimensional (2D) lead–halide perovskites shows a peculiar broad-band photoluminescence. Here we show that the structural distortions of the perovskite lattice can ...determine the defectivity of the material by modulating the defect formation energies. By selecting and comparing two archetype systems, namely, (NBT)2PbI4 and (EDBE)PbI4 perovskites (NBT = n-butylammonium and EDBE = 2,2-(ethylenedioxy)bis(ethylammonium)), we find that only the latter, subject to larger deformation of the Pb–X bond length and X–Pb–X bond angles, sees the formation of VF color centers whose radiative decay ultimately leads to broadened PL. These findings highlight the importance of structural engineering to control the optoelectronic properties of this class of soft materials.
Electronic properties and lattice vibrations are expected to be strongly correlated in metal-halide perovskites, due to the soft fluctuating nature of their crystal lattice. Thus, unveiling ...electron-phonon coupling dynamics upon ultrafast photoexcitation is necessary for understanding the optoelectronic behavior of the semiconductor. Here, we use impulsive vibrational spectroscopy to reveal vibrational modes of methylammonium lead-bromide perovskite under electronically resonant and non-resonant conditions. We identify two excited state coherent phonons at 89 and 106 cm
, whose phases reveal a shift of the potential energy minimum upon ultrafast photocarrier generation. This indicates the transition to a new geometry, reached after approximately 90 fs, and fully equilibrated within the phonons lifetime of about 1 ps. Our results unambiguously prove that these modes drive the crystalline distortion occurring upon photo-excitation, demonstrating the presence of polaronic effects.
The simplification of perovskite solar cells (PSCs), by replacing the mesoporous electron selective layer (ESL) with a planar one, is advantageous for large-scale manufacturing. PSCs with a planar ...TiO sub(2) ESL have been demonstrated, but these exhibit unstabilized power conversion efficiencies (PCEs). Herein we show that planar PSCs using TiO sub(2) are inherently limited due to conduction band misalignment and demonstrate, with a variety of characterization techniques, for the first time that SnO sub(2) achieves a barrier-free energetic configuration, obtaining almost hysteresis-free PCEs of over 18% with record high voltages of up to 1.19 V.
We present here a planar perovskite solar cell with a stabilized power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 17.6% at the maximum power point and a PCE of 17% extracted from quasi-static J-Vwith an ...open-circuit voltage of 1.11 V. Such excellent figures of merit can be achieved by engineering a solution-processed electron buffer layer that does not require high temperature steps. A compact thin film of perovskite absorber is grown onto a PCBM-based electron extraction layer by implementing a novel two-step procedure which preserves the soluble organic interlayer during the deposition of successive layers. We demonstrate that efficient charge extraction is the key for high steady state efficiency in perovskite solar cells with a highly integrable architecture.
Solar cells based on hybrid inorganic-organic halide perovskites have demonstrated high power conversion efficiencies in a range of architectures. The existence and stability of bound electron-hole ...pairs in these materials, and their role in the exceptional performance of optoelectronic devices, remains a controversial issue. Here we demonstrate, through a combination of optical spectroscopy and multiscale modeling as a function of the degree of polycrystallinity and temperature, that the electron-hole interaction is sensitive to the microstructure of the material. The long-range order is disrupted by polycrystalline disorder and the variations in electrostatic potential found for smaller crystals suppress exciton formation, while larger crystals of the same composition demonstrate an unambiguous excitonic state. We conclude that fabrication procedures and morphology strongly influence perovskite behaviour, with both free carrier and excitonic regimes possible, with strong implications for optoelectronic devices.
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