Lattice Expansion in Hybrid Perovskites: Effect on Optoelectronic Properties and Charge Carrier Dynamics
Hybrid halide perovskites frequently undergo structural expansion which significantly affects their electronic properties and in particular charge carrier dynamics. Various stimuli such as residual strain, light illumination, compositional engineering may deform the soft lattices of these materials. It is essential to atomistically model how geometric changes modify electronic characteristics important for applications such as light harvesting or lighting. Using ab initio simulations, here we investigate the structural dynamics and optoelectronic properties of FAPbI 3 under tensile strain. The applied strain leads to elongation of the Pb-I bonds and a reduction of PbI 6 octahedra tilting, which manifests as a blue-shifts in band gaps. Nonadiabatic molecular dynamics simulations further reveal that charge carrier recombination rates moderately slow down in these expanded lattices. Complex influences of lattice dynamics on elastic and inelastic electron-phonon scattering results in longer carrier lifetime which is advantageous for efficient solar cells. By providing detailed information on the structure-property relationships, this work emphasizes the role of controlled lattice expansion on enhancing the electronic functionalities of hybrid perovskites.