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Title: Do grain boundaries dominate non-radiative recombination in CH3NH3PbI 3 perovskite thin films?

Abstract

Here, we examine GBs with respect to non-GB regions (grain surfaces (GSs) and grain interiors (GIs)) in high-quality micrometer-sized perovskite CH3NH3PbI3 (or MAPbI3) thin films using high-resolution confocal fluorescence-lifetime imaging microscopy in conjunction with kinetic modeling of charge-transport and recombination processes. We show that, contrary to previous studies, GBs in our perovskite MAPbI3 thin films do not lead to increased recombination but that recombination in these films happens primarily in the non-GB regions (i.e., GSs or GIs). We also find that GBs in these films are not transparent to photogenerated carriers, which is likely associated with a potential barrier at GBs. Lastly, even though GBs generally display lower luminescence intensities than GSs/GIs, the lifetimes at GBs are no worse than those at GSs/GIs, further suggesting that GBs do not dominate non-radiative recombination in MAPbI3 thin films.

Authors:
 [1];  [2]; ORCiD logo [1];  [1];  [3]; ORCiD logo [1];  [1]
  1. National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States). Chemistry and Nanoscience Center
  2. National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States). Biosciences Center
  3. National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States). Material Science Center
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Solar Energy Technologies Office; USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)
OSTI Identifier:
1344765
Report Number(s):
NREL/JA-5900-66143
Journal ID: ISSN 1463-9076; PPCPFQ; TRN: US1700984
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC36-08GO28308
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics. PCCP
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 19; Journal Issue: 7; Journal ID: ISSN 1463-9076
Publisher:
Royal Society of Chemistry
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
14 SOLAR ENERGY; 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; grain boundaries; grain surfaces; grain interiors; perovskite thin films

Citation Formats

Yang, Mengjin, Zeng, Yining, Li, Zhen, Kim, Dong Hoe, Jiang, Chun-Sheng, van de Lagemaat, Jao, and Zhu, Kai. Do grain boundaries dominate non-radiative recombination in CH3NH3PbI 3 perovskite thin films?. United States: N. p., 2017. Web. doi:10.1039/C6CP08770A.
Yang, Mengjin, Zeng, Yining, Li, Zhen, Kim, Dong Hoe, Jiang, Chun-Sheng, van de Lagemaat, Jao, & Zhu, Kai. Do grain boundaries dominate non-radiative recombination in CH3NH3PbI 3 perovskite thin films?. United States. https://doi.org/10.1039/C6CP08770A
Yang, Mengjin, Zeng, Yining, Li, Zhen, Kim, Dong Hoe, Jiang, Chun-Sheng, van de Lagemaat, Jao, and Zhu, Kai. Fri . "Do grain boundaries dominate non-radiative recombination in CH3NH3PbI 3 perovskite thin films?". United States. https://doi.org/10.1039/C6CP08770A. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1344765.
@article{osti_1344765,
title = {Do grain boundaries dominate non-radiative recombination in CH3NH3PbI 3 perovskite thin films?},
author = {Yang, Mengjin and Zeng, Yining and Li, Zhen and Kim, Dong Hoe and Jiang, Chun-Sheng and van de Lagemaat, Jao and Zhu, Kai},
abstractNote = {Here, we examine GBs with respect to non-GB regions (grain surfaces (GSs) and grain interiors (GIs)) in high-quality micrometer-sized perovskite CH3NH3PbI3 (or MAPbI3) thin films using high-resolution confocal fluorescence-lifetime imaging microscopy in conjunction with kinetic modeling of charge-transport and recombination processes. We show that, contrary to previous studies, GBs in our perovskite MAPbI3 thin films do not lead to increased recombination but that recombination in these films happens primarily in the non-GB regions (i.e., GSs or GIs). We also find that GBs in these films are not transparent to photogenerated carriers, which is likely associated with a potential barrier at GBs. Lastly, even though GBs generally display lower luminescence intensities than GSs/GIs, the lifetimes at GBs are no worse than those at GSs/GIs, further suggesting that GBs do not dominate non-radiative recombination in MAPbI3 thin films.},
doi = {10.1039/C6CP08770A},
journal = {Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics. PCCP},
number = 7,
volume = 19,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Jan 13 00:00:00 EST 2017},
month = {Fri Jan 13 00:00:00 EST 2017}
}

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