skip to main content


Title: Probing the Spatial Heterogeneity of Carrier Relaxation Dynamics in CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 Perovskite Thin Films with Femtosecond Time‐Resolved Nonlinear Optical Microscopy
Abstract

The spatial heterogeneity of carrier dynamics in polycrystalline metal halide perovskite (MHP) thin films has a strong influence on photovoltaic device performance; however, the underlying cause is not yet clearly understood. Here, the sub‐micrometer scale mapping of charge carrier dynamics in CH3NH3PbI3thin films using time‐resolved nonlinear optical microscopy, specifically transient absorption microscopy (TAM) with sub‐picosecond (ps) and time‐resolved photoluminescence (PL) microscopy with nanosecond temporal resolution is reported. To study the influence of physical morphology on charge carrier dynamics, MHP thin films having granular‐ and fibrous structures are investigated. On both types of films, spatial regions with short‐lived transient gain signals (fast nonradiative relaxation within ≈1 ps) typically show slower charge recombination via radiative relaxation, which is attributed to the presence of additional energy states near the band edge. In addition, fibrous films show longer PL lifetimes. Interestingly, the functional contrast shown in TAM images exhibits fundamental differences from the structural contrast shown in scanning electron microscopy images, implying that the variation of trap density in the bulk contributes to the observed spatial heterogeneity in carrier dynamics.

 
more » « less
NSF-PAR ID:
10457522
Author(s) / Creator(s):
 ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  
Publisher / Repository:
Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Advanced Optical Materials
Volume:
7
Issue:
22
ISSN:
2195-1071
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
More Like this
  1. Earth-abundant Cu2BaSnS4-xSex (CBTSSe) represents a recent alter- native for Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 for solar energy conversion with a lower level of disorder and band tailing. We report the heterogeneous excited-state and trap-state pattern in different solution-processed CBTSSe films using ultrafast two-color pump-probe diffuse reflec- tance microscopic imaging. The spectroscopy/microscopy method can visualize and correlate the microscopic compositional and elec- tronic variations (i.e., trap states) in real space with time-resolved photophysics. Heterogeneity patterns in TAM images show that some grains exhibit a positive excited-state absorption (ESA) signal, while others show negative ground-state bleaching (GSB). Our re- sults visualize that film processing, such as air annealing and Na addition, has a clear influence on the heterogeneity of the excited- state pattern. Importantly, we report stable charge carrier over 100 ps. We applied the image principal component and histogram for quantitative analysis of TAM images to deconvolute and visu- alize the contribution and fingerprints of minority free carriers and sub-band-gap trapped carriers. 
    more » « less
  2. Abstract

    Metal halide perovskites (MHP) can be made more stable through the addition of small amounts of cesium. Despite the improvement, these multication absorbers still display strong environmental sensitivity to any combination of factors, including water, oxygen, bias, temperature, and light. Here, the relationship is elucidated between light absorption, charge carrier radiative recombination, and relative humidity (rH) for the Cs0.05FA0.79MA0.16Pb(I0.83Br0.17)3composition, revealing partially reversible reductions in the extinction coefficient and fully reversible 25× enhancements in absolute light emission registered across the same humidity cycles up to 70% rH. With in situ excitation wavelength‐dependent measurements, irreversible changes are identified in the perovskite after a single cycle of humidity‐dependent photoluminescence (PL) performed with 450 nm excitation. The in situ measurement platform can be extended to test the effect of other stressors on thin films’ optical behavior.

     
    more » « less
  3. Abstract

    A comprehensive experimental study on optical properties and photocarrier dynamics in Bi2O2Se monolayers and nanoplates is presented. Large and uniform Bi2O2Se nanoplates with various thicknesses down to the monolayer limit are fabricated. In nanoplates, a direct optical transition near 720 nm is identified by optical transmission, photoluminescence, and transient absorption spectroscopic measurements and is attributed to the transition between the valence and conduction bands in the Γ valley. Time‐resolved differential reflection measurements reveal ultrafast carrier thermalization and energy relaxation processes and a photocarrier recombination lifetime of about 200 ps in nanoplates. Furthermore, by spatially resolving the differential reflection signal, a photocarrier diffusion coefficient of about 4.8 cm2s−1is obtained, corresponding to a mobility of about 180 cm2V−1s−1. A similar direct transition is also observed in monolayer Bi2O2Se, suggesting that the states in the Γ valley do not change significantly with the thickness. The temporal dynamics of the excitons in the monolayer is quite different from the nanoplates, with a strong saturation effect and fast exciton–exciton annihilation at high densities. Spatially and temporally resolved measurements yield an exciton diffusion coefficient of about 20 cm2s−1.

     
    more » « less
  4. Abstract

    Quasi‐2D Ruddlesden–Popper halide perovskites with a large exciton binding energy, self‐assembled quantum wells, and high quantum yield draw attention for optoelectronic device applications. Thin films of these quasi‐2D perovskites consist of a mixture of domains having different dimensionality, allowing energy funneling from lower‐dimensional nanosheets (high‐bandgap domains) to 3D nanocrystals (low‐bandgap domains). High‐quality quasi‐2D perovskite (PEA)2(FA)3Pb4Br13films are fabricated by solution engineering. Grazing‐incidence wide‐angle X‐ray scattering measurements are conducted to study the crystal orientation, and transient absorption spectroscopy measurements are conducted to study the charge‐carrier dynamics. These data show that highly oriented 2D crystal films have a faster energy transfer from the high‐bandgap domains to the low‐bandgap domains (<0.5 ps) compared to the randomly oriented films. High‐performance light‐emitting diodes can be realized with these highly oriented 2D films. Finally, amplified spontaneous emission with a low threshold 4.16 µJ cm−2is achieved and distributed feedback lasers are also demonstrated. These results show that it is important to control the morphology of the quasi‐2D films to achieve efficient energy transfer, which is a critical requirement for light‐emitting devices.

     
    more » « less
  5. Abstract

    In high fluence applications of lead halide perovskites for light-emitting diodes and lasers, multi-polaron interactions and associated Auger recombination limit the device performance. However, the relationship of the ultrafast and strongly lattice coupled carrier dynamics to nanoscale heterogeneities has remained elusive. Here, in ultrafast visible-pump infrared-probe nano-imaging of the photoinduced carrier dynamics in triple cation perovskite films, a ~20 % variation in sub-ns relaxation dynamics with spatial disorder on tens to hundreds of nanometer is resolved. We attribute the non-uniform relaxation dynamics to the heterogeneous evolution of polaron delocalization and increasing scattering time. The initial high-density excitation results in faster relaxation due to strong many-body interactions, followed by extended carrier lifetimes at lower densities. These results point towards the missing link between the optoelectronic heterogeneity and associated carrier dynamics to guide synthesis and device engineering for improved perovskites device performance.

     
    more » « less