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Title: Stabilization of the Metastable Lead Iodide Perovskite Phase via Surface Functionalization

Journal Article · · Nano Letters

Metastable structural polymorphs can have superior properties and applications to their thermodynamically stable phases, but the rational synthesis of metastable phases is a challenge. Here in this paper, a new strategy for stabilizing metastable phases using surface functionalization is demonstrated using the example of formamidinium lead iodide (FAPbI3) perovskite, which is metastable at room temperature (RT) but holds great promises in solar and light-emitting applications. We show that, through surface ligand functionalization during direct solution growth at RT, pure FAPbI3 in the cubic perovskite phase can be stabilized in nanostructures and thin films at RT without cation or anion alloying. Surface characterizations reveal that long-chain alkyl or aromatic ammonium (LA) cations bind to the surface of perovskite structure. Calculations show that such functionalization reduces the surface energy and plays a dominant role in stabilizing the metastable perovskite phase. Excellent photophysics and optically pumped lasing from the stabilized single-crystal FAPbI3 nanoplates with low thresholds were demonstrated. High-performance solar cells can be fabricated with such directly synthesized stabilized phase-pure FAPbI3 with a lower bandgap. Our results offer new insights on the surface chemistry of perovskite materials and provide a new strategy for stabilizing metastable perovskites and metastable polymorphs of solid materials in general.

Research Organization:
Columbia Univ., New York, NY (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES) (SC-22). Materials Sciences & Engineering Division
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0010692
OSTI ID:
1474062
Journal Information:
Nano Letters, Vol. 17, Issue 7; ISSN 1530-6984
Publisher:
American Chemical SocietyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 169 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Toward Perovskite Solar Cell Commercialization: A Perspective and Research Roadmap Based on Interfacial Engineering journal June 2018
Optimal Interfacial Engineering with Different Length of Alkylammonium Halide for Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells journal October 2019
Unique characteristics of 2D Ruddlesden–Popper (2DRP) perovskite for future photovoltaic application journal January 2019
Significantly improved black phase stability of FAPbI 3 nanowires via spatially confined vapor phase growth in nanoporous templates journal January 2018
2D perovskite stabilized phase-pure formamidinium perovskite solar cells journal August 2018
Remarkable long-term stability of nanoconfined metal–halide perovskite crystals against degradation and polymorph transitions journal January 2018
Br-containing alkyl ammonium salt-enabled scalable fabrication of high-quality perovskite films for efficient and stable perovskite modules journal January 2019
Flexible Perowskit‐Solarzellen: Herstellung und Anwendungen journal February 2019
Bication lead iodide 2D perovskite component to stabilize inorganic α-CsPbI 3 perovskite phase for high-efficiency solar cells journal September 2017
Room-Temperature Red-Green-Blue Whispering-Gallery Mode Lasing and White-Light Emission from Cesium Lead Halide Perovskite (CsPbX 3 , X = Cl, Br, I) Microstructures journal December 2017
Recent Advances in Flexible Perovskite Solar Cells: Fabrication and Applications journal February 2019
Synthesis and optical properties of ordered-vacancy perovskite cesium bismuth halide nanocrystals journal January 2018
Materials chemistry and engineering in metal halide perovskite lasers journal January 2020
Metal halide perovskite nanostructures for optoelectronic applications and the study of physical properties journal February 2019
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Multilayer evaporation of MAFAPbI 3− x Cl x for the fabrication of efficient and large-scale device perovskite solar cells journal November 2018
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Review of Stability Enhancement for Formamidinium‐Based Perovskites journal May 2019
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