skip to main content

Attention:

The NSF Public Access Repository (PAR) system and access will be unavailable from 11:00 PM ET on Friday, December 13 until 2:00 AM ET on Saturday, December 14 due to maintenance. We apologize for the inconvenience.


Title: Enhanced Photoluminescence and Stability of CH 3 NH 3 PbBr 3 Perovskite Nanocrystals with Protonated Melamine
Abstract

The surface of CH3NH3PbBr3perovskite nanocrystals (PNCs) plays a critical role in determining their optical properties and stability. The introduction of capping ligands can enhance photoluminescence (PL), reduce non‐radiative recombination, and improve stability. Here, we report a facile synthesis of CH3NH3PbBr3PNCs with strong and highly stable green PL using melamine (Mela) as a simple and low‐cost capping ligand. The resulting CH3NH3PbBr3/Mela PNCs have cubic phase crystal structure with an average particle size of 5.29±0.06 nm. The optical absorption and PL of the CH3NH3PbBr3/Mela PNCs with narrow bandwidth can be tuned within the visible region, and the PL quantum yield (QY) reached 52.3% compared to 0.4% the pristine CH3NH3PbBr3PNCs. A synergistic effect between NH3+and the electron‐rich nitrogen atoms together with p‐p stacking capacity, likely contributes to enhance the PL by effectively passivating of the trap states of PNCs. Furthermore, melamine‐capped PNCs show high stability in protic solvents as a result of the steric bulkiness of the triazine rings, owing to the planar structure together with hydrogen bonding of melamine, which prevents solvent molecules from reaching and reacting with the core of PNCs. This study demonstrates a simple and effective approach for stabilizing PNCs for potential applications such as solar cells and LEDs.

 
more » « less
PAR ID:
10054052
Author(s) / Creator(s):
 ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  
Publisher / Repository:
Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)
Date Published:
Journal Name:
ChemNanoMat
Volume:
4
Issue:
4
ISSN:
2199-692X
Page Range / eLocation ID:
p. 409-416
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
More Like this
  1. Abstract

    Understanding interfacial reactions that occur between the active layer and charge‐transport layers can extend the stability of perovskite solar cells. In this study, the exposure of methylammonium lead iodide (CH3NH3PbI3) thin films prepared on poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS)‐coated glass to 70% relative humidity (R.H.) leads to a perovskite crystal structure change from tetragonal to cubic within 2 days. Interface‐sensitive photoluminescence measurements indicate that the structural change originates at the PEDOT:PSS/perovskite interface. During exposure to 30% R.H., the same structural change occurs over a much longer time scale (>200 days), and a reflection consistent with the presence of (CH3)2NH2PbI3is detected to coexist with the cubic phase by X‐ray diffraction pattern. The authors propose that chemical interactions at the PEDOT:PSS/perovskite interface, facilitated by humidity, promote the formation of dimethylammonium, (CH3)2NH2+. The partial A‐site substitution of CH3NH3+for (CH3)2NH2+to produce a cubic (CH3NH3)1−x[(CH3)2NH2]xPbI3phase explains the structural change from tetragonal to cubic during short‐term humidity exposure. When (CH3)2NH2+content exceeds its solubility limit in the perovskite during longer humidity exposures, a (CH3)2NH2+‐rich, hexagonal phase of (CH3NH3)1−x[(CH3)2NH2]xPbI3emerges. These interfacial interactions may have consequences for device stability and performance beyond CH3NH3PbI3model systems and merit close attention from the perovskite research community.

     
    more » « less
  2. Recent progress has been made on the synthesis and characterization of metal halide perovskite magic-sized clusters (PMSCs) with ABX 3 composition ( A = C H 3 N H 3 + or Cs + , B = P b 2 + , and X = C l − , Br - , or I - ). However, their mechanism of growth and structure is still not well understood. In our effort to understand their structure and growth, we discovered that a new species can be formed without the CH 3 NH 3 + component, which we name as molecular clusters (MCs). Specifically, CH 3 NH 3 PbBr 3 PMSCs, with a characteristic absorption peak at 424 nm, are synthesized using PbBr 2 and CH 3 NH 3 Br as precursors and butylamine (BTYA) and valeric acid (VA) as ligands, while MCs, with an absorption peak at 402 nm, are synthesized using solely PbBr 2 and BTYA, without CH 3 NH 3 Br. Interestingly, PMSCs are converted spontaneously overtime into MCs. An isosbestic point in their electronic absorption spectra indicates a direct interplay between the PMSCs and MCs. Therefore, we suggest that the MCs are precursors to the PMSCs. From spectroscopic and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) results, we propose some tentative structural models for the MCs. The discovery of the MCs is critical to understanding the growth of PMSCs as well as larger perovskite quantum dots (PQDs) or nanocrystals (PNCs). 
    more » « less
  3. Abstract

    Organic–inorganic halide perovskites are promising photodetector materials due to their strong absorption, large carrier mobility, and easily tunable bandgap. Up to now, perovskite photodetectors are mainly based on polycrystalline thin films, which have some undesired properties such as large defective grain boundaries hindering the further improvement of the detector performance. Here, perovskite thin‐single‐crystal (TSC) photodetectors are fabricated with a vertical p–i–n structure. Due to the absence of grain‐boundaries, the trap densities of TSCs are 10–100 folds lower than that of polycrystalline thin films. The photodetectors based on CH3NH3PbBr3and CH3NH3PbI3TSCs show low noise of 1–2 fA Hz−1/2, yielding a high specific detectivity of 1.5 × 1013cm Hz1/2W−1. The absence of grain boundaries reduces charge recombination and enables a linear response under strong light, superior to polycrystalline photodetectors. The CH3NH3PbBr3photodetectors show a linear response to green light from 0.35 pW cm−2to 2.1 W cm−2, corresponding to a linear dynamic range of 256 dB.

     
    more » « less
  4. Abstract

    The chemical stabilities of hybrid perovskite materials demand further improvement toward long‐term and large‐scale photovoltaic applications. Herein, the enhanced chemical stability of CH3NH3PbI3is reported by doping the divalent anion Se2−in the form of PbSe in precursor solutions to enhance the hydrogen‐bonding‐like interactions between the organic cations and the inorganic framework. As a result, in 100% humidity at 40 °C, the 10% w/w PbSe‐doped CH3NH3PbI3films exhibited >140‐fold stability improvement over pristine CH3NH3PbI3films. As the PbSe‐doped CH3NH3PbI3films maintained the perovskite structure, a top efficiency of 10.4% with 70% retention after 700 h aging in ambient air is achieved with an unencapsulated 10% w/w PbSe:MAPbI3‐based cell. As a bonus, the incorporated Se2−also effectively suppresses iodine diffusion, leading to enhanced chemical stability of the silver electrodes.

     
    more » « less
  5. Abstract

    Organolead halide perovskites convert optical excitations to charge carriers with remarkable efficiency in optoelectronic devices. Previous research predominantly documents dynamics in perovskite thin films; however, extensive disorder in this platform may obscure the observed carrier dynamics. Here, carrier dynamics in perovskite single‐domain single crystals is examined by performing transient absorption spectroscopy in a transmissive geometry. Two distinct sets of carrier populations that coexist at the same radiation fluence, but display different decay dynamics, are observed: one dominated by second‐order recombination and the other by third‐order recombination. Based on ab initio simulations, this observation is found to be most consistent with the hypothesis that free carriers and localized carriers coexist due to polaron formation. The calculations suggest that polarons will form in both CH3NH3PbBr3and CH3NH3PbI3crystals, but that they are more pronounced in CH3NH3PbBr3. Single‐crystal CH3NH3PbBr3could represent the key to understanding the impact of polarons on the transport properties of perovskite optoelectronic devices.

     
    more » « less