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Title: Oxygen-induced defects at the lead halide perovskite/graphene oxide interfaces

Journal Article · · Journal of Materials Chemistry. A
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1039/c7ta10010h· OSTI ID:1422395

Here, graphene oxide or its reduced derivative (GO/RGO) replace metal oxides in perovskite photovoltaics to achieve energy band alignment for minimization of the energy barriers at the film interfaces allowing efficient charge transport, and eliminate stability issues. However, the power conversion efficiencies fall in a wide range (~0.6–18%). Therefore, the perovskite growth and nucleation on GO/RGO require fundamental understanding to improve device function for controlled fabrication, which remain a major challenge. We analyze the surface morphology and crystallization of the lead halide perovskites (MAPbX3) at 20–300 °C on GO using X-ray diffraction and photoelectron spectroscopy. To determine defect mechanisms and their composition, we perform in situ transmission infrared and micro Raman spectroscopy, and the cross-sectional scanning microscopy that captures interfacial imperfections with the oxygen defects. We demonstrate the oxygen-induced defects at the MAPbX3/GO interfaces that initiate at room temperature, and occur through the nucleophilic substitution reactions. Unexpectedly, structural defects nucleate in GO forming chemically reduced GO, and modify the surface morphology that yield a poor perovskite growth. Our theoretical studies also reveal that energetically favorable, exothermic reactions between the halides of the perovskite precursors and the oxygen groups of GO generate acidic reaction by-products (i.e. HX), that confirm the formation of oxygen-induced defects.

Research Organization:
Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-06CH11357
OSTI ID:
1422395
Journal Information:
Journal of Materials Chemistry. A, Vol. 6, Issue 4; ISSN 2050-7488
Publisher:
Royal Society of ChemistryCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 20 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Morphology and Interface Engineering for Organic Metal Halide Perovskite-Based Photovoltaic Cells journal May 2018
Doping and Photon Induced Defect Healing of Hybrid Perovskite Thin Films: An Approach Towards Efficient Light Emitting Diodes journal March 2019
Enhancement in lifespan of halide perovskite solar cells journal January 2019
Highly photoluminescent, dense solid films from organic-capped CH 3 NH 3 PbBr 3 perovskite colloids journal January 2018
Ultrathin lead bromide perovskite platelets spotted with europium( ii ) bromide dots journal January 2019
Formation of a photoactive quasi-2D formamidinium lead iodide perovskite in water journal January 2019

Figures / Tables (11)