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Title: Atomic Structure and Electrical Activity of Grain Boundaries and Ruddlesden-Popper Faults in Cesium Lead Bromide Perovskite

Journal Article · · Advanced Materials

Abstract To evaluate the role of planar defects in lead‐halide perovskites—cheap, versatile semiconducting materials—it is critical to examine their structure, including defects, at the atomic scale and develop a detailed understanding of their impact on electronic properties. In this study, postsynthesis nanocrystal fusion, aberration‐corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy, and first‐principles calculations are combined to study the nature of different planar defects formed in CsPbBr 3 nanocrystals. Two types of prevalent planar defects from atomic resolution imaging are observed: previously unreported Br‐rich [001](210)∑5 grain boundaries (GBs) and Ruddlesden–Popper (RP) planar faults. The first‐principles calculations reveal that neither of these planar faults induce deep defect levels, but their Br‐deficient counterparts do. It is found that the ∑5 GB repels electrons and attracts holes, similar to an n–p–n junction, and the RP planar defects repel both electrons and holes, similar to a semiconductor–insulator–semiconductor junction. Finally, the potential applications of these findings and their implications to understand the planar defects in organic–inorganic lead‐halide perovskites that have led to solar cells with extremely high photoconversion efficiencies are discussed.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
Grant/Contract Number:
AC05-00OR22725
OSTI ID:
1493984
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1484312
Journal Information:
Advanced Materials, Vol. 31, Issue 4; ISSN 0935-9648
Publisher:
WileyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 55 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Cited By (7)

Patterned Wettability Surface for Competition‐Driving Large‐Grained Perovskite Solar Cells journal May 2019
Progress of Surface Science Studies on ABX 3 ‐Based Metal Halide Perovskite Solar Cells journal April 2020
Atomic‐Resolution Imaging of Halide Perovskites Using Electron Microscopy journal February 2020
Anorganische CsPbX 3 ‐Perowskit‐Solarzellen: Fortschritte und Perspektiven journal August 2019
All‐Inorganic CsPbX 3 Perovskite Solar Cells: Progress and Prospects journal August 2019
Recent Progress of All‐Bromide Inorganic Perovskite Solar Cells journal April 2020
Effects of pressure on the ionic transport and photoelectrical properties of CsPbBr 3 journal February 2019