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At least 685 records · Page 38

Mechanism of Additive-Assisted Room-Temperature Processing of Metal Halide Perovskite Thin Films

Perovskite solar cells have received substantial attention due to their potential for low-cost photovoltaic devices on flexible or rigid substrates. Thiocyanate (SCN)-containing additives, such as MASCN (MA = methylammonium), have been shown to control perovskite film crystallization and the film microstructure to achieve effective room-temperature perovskite absorber processing. Nevertheless, the crystallization pathways and mechanisms of perovskite formation involved in MASCN additive processing are far from clear. Using in situ X-ray diffraction and photoluminescence, we investigate the crystallization pathways of MAPbI 3 and reveal the mechanisms of additive-assisted perovskite formation during spin coating and subsequent N 2 drying. In this work, we confirm that MASCN induces large precursor aggregates in solution and, during spin coating, promotes the formation of the perovskite phase with lower nucleation density and overall larger initial nuclei size, which forms upon reaching supersaturation in solution, in addition to intermediate solvent-complex phases. Finally, during the subsequent N 2 drying, MASCN facilitates the dissociation of these precursor aggregates and the solvate phases, leading to further growth of the perovskite crystals. Our results show that the nature of the intermediate phases and their formation/dissociation kinetics determine the nucleation and growth of the perovskite phase, which subsequently impact the film microstructure. These findings provide mechanistic insights underlying room-temperature, additive-assisted perovskite processing and help guide further development of such facile room-temperature synthesis routes.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Real- and momentum-space description of the excitons in bulk and monolayer chromium tri-halides

Excitons with large binding energies ~2–3 eV in CrX 3 have been characterized as being localized (Frenkel) excitons that emerge from the atomic d – d transitions between the Cr-3d-t 2g and e g orbitals. The argument has gathered strength in recent years as the excitons in recently made monolayers are found at almost the same energies as the bulk. The Laporte rule, which restricts such parity forbidden atomic transitions, can relax if a symmetry-breaking mechanism is present. While what can be classified as a purely Frenkel exciton is a matter of definition, we show using an advanced first principles parameter-free approach that these excitons in CrX 3 , in both its bulk and monolayer variants, have band origin and it is the dp hybridization between Cr and X that primarily acts as the symmetry-breaking mechanism that relaxes the Laporte rule. We show that the character of these excitons is mostly determined by the Cr-d orbital manifold, nevertheless, the fractions of the spectral weight shared with the ligand halogen states increases as the dp hybridization enhances. The hybridization enhances as the halogen atom becomes heavier, bringing the X-p states closer to the Cr-d states in the sequence Cl → Br → I, with an attendant increase in exciton intensity and a decrease in binding energy. By applying a range of different kinds of perturbations that qualitatively mimics the effects originating from the missing vertex in self-energy, we show that moderate changes to the two-particle Hamiltonian that essentially modifies the Cr-d-X-p hybridization, can alter both the intensities and positions of the exciton peaks. A detailed analysis of several deep-lying excitons, with and without strain, elucidates the fact that the exciton is most Frenkel-like in CrCl 3 and CrBr 3 and acquires mixed Frenkel–Wannier character in CrI 3 , making the excitons in CrI 3 most susceptible to environmental screening and spin–orbit coupling.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Strategies to improve the mechanical robustness of metal halide perovskite solar cells

We report on the mechanical properties of high-efficiency perovskite solar cells (PSCs) with different chemical components by measuring the fracture energy (G c ) of films and devices. With the help of both macroscopic and microscopic techniques, we identify the locations where fracture takes place in the devices (either adhesive or cohesive failure) with various material and device structures. We propose strategies that can improve the fracture energy of PSCs based on the measured G c : the use of ozone-nucleated atomic layer deposition to improve charge transport layer robustness and the use of 2D perovskites and morphology control to improve the perovskite robustness. Our findings offer a pathway to rationally study the mechanical properties of PSCs and enable such cells to be more mechanically robust to reach commercial viability.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Roadmap on commercialization of metal halide perovskite photovoltaics

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) represent one of the most promising emerging photovoltaic technologies due to their high power conversion efficiency. However, despite the huge progress made not only in terms of the efficiency achieved, but also fundamental understanding of the relevant physics of the devices and issues which affect their efficiency and stability, there are still unresolved problems and obstacles on the path toward commercialization of this promising technology. In this roadmap, we aim to provide a concise and up to date summary of outstanding issues and challenges, and the progress made toward addressing these issues. While the format of this article is not meant to be a comprehensive review of the topic, it provides a collection of the viewpoints of the experts in the field, which covers a broad range of topics related to PSC commercialization, including those relevant for manufacturing (scaling up, different types of devices), operation and stability (various factors), and environmental issues (in particular the use of lead). We hope that the article will provide a useful resource for researchers in the field and that it will facilitate discussions and move forward toward addressing the outstanding challenges in this fast-developing field.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Evaluating High-Halide Waste Form Options for Salt-Based Nuclear Waste Simulants

In this study, waste forms were being explored for an electrochemical salt simulant, , referred to as ERV3, which is a high-LiCl/KCl salt containing simulated fission products (i.e., Sr, Cs, Nd) and Na to represent bond sodium from Experimental Breeder Reactor-II metallic fast reactor fuel. The goal was to find glassy systems that could be used to immobilize the salt in a single-step process. The envisionment of this process would be find a frit glass that could be added to the salt waste, heat treated, poured into waste canisters, and then stored for disposal. To perform this study, a literature review was conducted, the most promising seven systems were fabricated without the salt, and then mixed with salt simulant and heat treated under different processes. The criteria that were used to screen potential compositions included demonstrated alkali incorporation, could be melted at reasonably low temperature ( T ≤ 1000°C), and if the compositions had some demonstrated data for waste-form-related properties, that was a benefit. High marks were given for compositions that showed amorphous nature after slow cooling of samples containing ERV3.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

A Path to III-V Photovoltaic Cost Reduction Combining GaAs (211) Spalling with Halide Vapor Phase Epitaxy

This presentation is an overview of the following, Spalling on 211 oriented wafers produces flat surface without faceting: 1) Demonstrated spall on entire 2" wafer; 2) GaAs and GaInP grown on 211 wafers by HVPE; and 3) Promising cell with VOC=1.02 V and IQE-1. Next steps: 1) Grow cell on spalled wafer and 2) Growth studies to improve material and cell on 211 substrates.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Exploration of Electrochemical Reactions at Organic–Inorganic Halide Perovskite Interfaces via Machine Learning in In Situ Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry

The instability of hybrid organic–inorganic perovskite (HOIP) devices is one of the significant challenges preventing commercialization. Exploring these phenomena is severely limited by the complexity of the intrinsic electrochemistry of HOIPs, the presence of multiple volatile and mobile ionic species, and the possible role of environmentally induced reactions at surfaces and triple-phase junctions. Here, in situ studies of the electrochemistry of methylammonium lead bromide perovskite with the Au electrode interface are reported via light- and voltage-dependent time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) imaging of lateral perovskite heterostructures. While ToF-SIMS allows for the visualization of the chemical composition along the surface and its evolution with light and electrical bias, the interpretation of the multidimensional data obtained is often limited due to strong correlations between chemical signatures and the need to track multiple peaks at once. Here, a machine learning workflow combining the Hough transform and non-negative matrix factorization and no-negative tensor decomposition is developed to avoid this limitation and extract salient features of associated chemical changes and to separate the light- and voltage-dependent dynamics. Finally, combining these in situ characterizations and the machine learning workflow provides comprehensive information on the chemical nature of moving species, ion accumulation, and interfacial electrochemical reactions in HOIP devices.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Band Edge Control of Quasi–2D Metal Halide Perovskites for Blue Light–Emitting Diodes with Enhanced Performance

Perovskite light–emitting diodes (PeLEDs) have received great attention for their potential as next–generation display technology. While remarkable progress has been achieved in green, red, and near–infrared PeLEDs with external quantum efficiencies (EQEs) exceeding 20%, obtaining high performance blue PeLEDs remains a challenge. Poor charge balance due to large charge injection barriers in blue PeLEDs has been identified as one of the major roadblocks to achieve high efficiency. Here band edge control of perovskite emitting layers for blue PeLEDs with enhanced charge balance and device performance is reported. By using organic spacer cations with different dipole moments, that is, phenethyl ammonium (PEA), methoxy phenethyl ammonium (MePEA), and 4–fluoro phenethyl ammonium (4FPEA), the band edges of quasi–2D perovskites are tuned without affecting their band gaps. Furthermore, detailed characterization and computational studies have confirmed the effect of dipole moment modification to be mostly electrostatic, resulting in changes in the ionization energies of ≈0.45 eV for MePEA and ≈ –0.65 eV for 4FPEA based thin films relative to PEA–based thin films. With improved charge balance, blue PeLEDs based on MePEA quasi–2D perovskites show twofold increase of the EQE as compared to the control PEA based devices.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Highly Efficient Pure‐Blue Light‐Emitting Diodes Based on Rubidium and Chlorine Alloyed Metal Halide Perovskite

Abstract Perovskite light‐emitting diodes (PeLEDs) are promising candidates for display and solid‐state lighting, due to their tunable colors, high conversion efficiencies, and low cost. However, the performance of blue PeLEDs is far inferior to that of the near‐infrared, red, and green counterparts. Here, the fabrication of pure‐blue PeLEDs with an emission peak at 475 nm, a peak external quantum efficiency of 10.1%, and a maximum luminance of 14 000 cd m −2 is demonstrated by tailoring the compositions of perovskites. The pure‐blue electroluminescence is achieved by simultaneous addition of rubidium and chlorine ions into CsPbBr 3 and incorporation of phenylethylammonium chloride forms quasi‐2D hybrid perovskites. The combination of these composition engineering results in blueshifted emissions without reducing the quantum yield. The judicious alloying is shown to be critical to result in the better morphology with suppressed current leakage and enhanced light outcoupling.

Yang, Yang↗

Correction to: Imaging Light–Induced Migration of Dislocations in Halide Perovskites with 3D Nanoscale Strain Mapping

Owing to an error in properly normalizing the reconstruction phase data into atomic displacements, the strain values that we used to calculate the root mean squared local strain, ε rms , and to calculate the fraction of the crystals more strain than 1%, f, quoted in the original paper, are roughly one order of magnitude too large. This error was only discovered recently whilst performing further analysis.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗