Exploring the Effects of Ionic Defects on the Stability of CsPbI3 with a Deep Learning Potential

Inorganic metal halide perovskites, such as CsPbI₃, have recently drawn extensive attention due to their excellent optical properties and high photoelectric efficiencies. However, the structural instability originating from inherent ionic defects leads to a sharp drop in the photoelectric efficiency, which significantly limits their applications in solar cells. The instability induced by ionic defects remains unresolved due to its complicated reaction process. Herein, to explore the effects of ionic defects on stability, we develop a deep learning potential for a CsPbI₃ ternary system based upon density functional theory (DFT) calculated data for large-scale molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. By exploring 2.4 million configurations, of which 7,730 structures are used for the training set, the deep learning potential shows an accuracy approaching DFT-level. Furthermore, MD simulations with a 5,000-atom system and a one nanosecond timeframe are performed to explore the effects of bulk and surface defects on the stability of CsPbI₃. This deep learning potential based MD simulation provides solid evidence together with the derived radial distribution functions, simulated diffraction of X-rays, instability temperature, molecular trajectory, and coordination number for revealing the instability mechanism of CsPbI₃. Among bulk defects, Cs defects have the most significant influence on the stability of CsPbI₃ with a defect tolerance concentration of 0.32 %, followed by Pb and I defects. With regards to surface defects, Cs defects have the largest impact on the stability of CsPbI₃ when the defect concentration is less than 15 %, whereas Pb defects act play a dominant role for defect concentrations exceeding 20 %. Most importantly, this machine-learning-based MD simulation strategy provides a new avenue to explore the ionic defect effects on the stability of perovskite-like materials, laying a theoretical foundation for the design of stable perovskite materials.     

How Chemical Bonding Impacts Halide Perovskite Nanocrystals Growth to Bulk Films: Implication of Pb−X Bond on Growth Kinetics

Lead halide perovskites nanocrystals have emerged as a leading candidate in perovskite solar cells and light-emitting diodes. Given their favorable, tunable optoelectronic properties through modifying the size of nanocrystals, it is imperative to understand and control the growth of lead halide perovskite nanocrystals. However, during the nanocrystal growth into bulk films, the effect of halide bonding on growth kinetics remains elusive. To understand how a chemical bonding of Pb−X (covalency and ionicity) impact on growth of nanocrystals, we have examined two different halide perovskite nanocrystals of CsPbCl₃ (more ionic) and CsPbI₃ (more covalent) derived from the same parent CsPbBr₃ nanocrystals. Tracking the growth of nanocrystals by monitoring the spectral features of bulk peaks (at 445 nm for Cl and at 650 nm for I) enables us to determine the growth activation energy to be 92 kJ/mol (for CsPbCl₃) versus 71 kJ/mol (for CsPbI₃). The electronegativity of halides in Pb−X bonds governs the bond strength (150–240 kJ/mol), characteristics of bonding (ionic versus covalent), and growth kinetics and resulting activation energies. A fundamental understanding of Pb−X bonding provides a significant insight into controlling the size of the perovskite nanocrystals with more desired optoelectronic properties.     

The extension of the mechanistic concept of the nucleophilic catalysis in the silicon chemistry to some reactions of the P(III) center: Analogies between silylation and phosphorylation

Many observations prove that a number of silylation reactions of a trialkylsilyl halide-uncharged base system occur with the transient formation of a 1:1 tetrahedral silicon ionic complex of the silyl halide with the base. Some catalytic processes of phosphorylation of protonic substrates with tricoordinate phosphorus halides in mixture with an uncharged base show similar features to these silylation reactions, implying that a similar mechanism may operate. It was demonstrated that Ph₂PCl phosphorylates t-BuOH faster under catalysis with 4-N,N-dimethylamino pyridine or N-methylimidazole than in the presence of Et₃N by a factor of 400 and 33, respectively. The catalytic phosphorylation process exhibits a very low activation energy and a high negative value of entropy of activation. The interaction of the uncharged bases with model tricoordinate phosphorus halides was demonstrated to lead to the formation of ionic 1:1 complexes without changing the coordination number of phosphorus, in full analogy to the silyl halide complex formation. Finally, the interaction of phosphorous tris(dimethylamide) with a silyl iodide and a phosphorous iodide results in both cases in the formation of the ionic 1:1 complex, which also leads to analogous reactions of exchange of the amide group with iodide. These close similarities imply that some phosphorylation reactions with tricoordinate phosphorus halides catalyzed with uncharged bases occur via a tricoordinate phosphorus cation intermediate.     

1D Choline-PbI3-Based Heterostructure Boosts Efficiency and Stability of CsPbI3 Perovskite Solar Cells

Defects in perovskite are key factors in limiting the photovoltaic performance and stability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Generally, choline halide (ChX) can effectively passivate defects by binding with charged point defects of perovskite. However, we verified that ChI can react with CsPbI₃ to form a novel crystal phase of one-dimensional (1D) ChPbI₃, which constructs 1D/3D heterostructure with 3D CsPbI₃, passivating the defects of CsPbI₃ more effectively and then resulting in significantly improved photoluminescence lifetime from 20.2 ns to 49.4 ns. Moreover, the outstanding chemical inertness of 1D ChPbI₃ and the repair of undesired δ-CsPbI₃ deficiency during its formation process can significantly enhance the stability of CsPbI₃ film. Benefiting from 1D/3D heterostructure, CsPbI₃ carbon-based PSCs (C-PSCs) delivered a champion efficiency of 18.05 % and a new certified record of 17.8 % in hole transport material (HTM)-free inorganic C-PSCs.     

Effect of Growth Temperature on the Characteristics of CsPbI3-Quantum Dots Doped Perovskite Film

In this study, adding CsPbI₃ quantum dots to organic perovskite methylamine lead triiodide (CH₃NH₃PbI₃) to form a doped perovskite film filmed by different temperatures was found to effectively reduce the formation of unsaturated metal Pb. Doping a small amount of CsPbI₃ quantum dots could enhance thermal stability and improve surface defects. The electron mobility of the doped film was 2.5 times higher than the pristine film. This was a major breakthrough for inorganic quantum dot doped organic perovskite thin films.     

Diphenylphosphinite ionic liquid (IL-OPPh2): A solvent and ligand for palladium-catalyzed silylation and dehalogenation reaction of aryl halides with triethylsilane

The use of an imidazolium-based phosphinite ionic liquid (IL-OPPh₂) as both solvent and ligand for Pd offers an efficient catalytic system for silylation of aryl iodides, bromides and also chlorides by triethylsilane in the presence of Cs₂CO₃. In the absence of base, this system is also performed for catalytic dehalogenation of aryl halides. The ionic liquid containing its corresponding Pd(0) complex can be easily recovered and reused in several runs without losing its efficiency.     

Imidazolium-based phosphinite ionic liquid (IL-OPPh2) as Pd ligand and solvent for selective dehalogenation or homocoupling of aryl halides

The use of an imidazolium-based phosphinite ionic liquid (IL-OPPh₂) as ligand for Pd offers an efficient reagent system for the selective dehalogenation or homocoupling of aryl halides in the presence of NaOPrⁱ or Et₃N, respectively. This ionic liquid plays a dual role as both the reaction media and also as the potential complexing agent with Pd via its phosphinite carrying group. The ionic liquid containing its corresponding Pd complex can be easily recovered and reused in several runs.     

In Situ Ligand Bonding Management of CsPbI3 Perovskite Quantum Dots Enables High-Performance Photovoltaics and Red Light-Emitting Diodes

To fine-tune surface ligands towards high-performance devices, we developed an in situ passivation process for all-inorganic cesium lead iodide (CsPbI₃) perovskite quantum dots (QDs) by using a bifunctional ligand, L-phenylalanine (L-PHE). Through the addition of this ligand into the precursor solution during synthesis, the in situ treated CsPbI₃ QDs display significantly reduced surface states, increased vacancy formation energy, higher photoluminescence quantum yields, and much improved stability. Consequently, the L-PHE passivated CsPbI₃ QDs enabled the realization of QD solar cells with an optimal efficiency of 14.62 % and red light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with a highest external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 10.21 %, respectively, demonstrating the great potential of ligand bonding management in improving the optoelectronic properties of solution-processed perovskite QDs.     

Carrier dynamics in CsPbI3 perovskite microcrystals synthesized in solution phase

Carrier diffusion and recombination kinetics in all-inorganic CsPbI₃ perovskite microcrystals directly synthesized in solution phase are reported.     

Investigation of the Stability of Methylammonium Lead Iodide (MAPbI3) Film Doped with Lead Cesium Triiodide (CsPbI3) Quantum Dots under an Oxygen Plasma Atmosphere

In this study, we describe composited perovskite films based on the doping of lead cesium triiodide (CsPbI₃) quantum dots (QDs) into methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI₃). CsPbI₃ QDs and MAPbI₃ were prepared by ligand-assisted re-precipitation and solution mixing, respectively. These films were optimized by oxygen plasma treatment, and the effect of powers from 0 to 80 W on the structural properties of the composited perovskite films is discussed. The experimental results showed that the light-harvesting ability of the films was enhanced at 20 W. The formation of the metastable state (lead(II) oxide and lead tetroxide) was demonstrated by peak differentiation-imitating. A low power enhanced the quality of the films due to the removal of organic impurities, whereas a high power caused surface damage in the films owing to the severe degradation of MAPbI₃.     

Kinetic and mechanistic studies on the oxidation of hydroxylamine, semicarbazide, and thiosemicarbazide by iron(III) in the presence of triazines

In the presence of 3-(2-pyridyl)-5,6-bis(4-phenyl-sulphonicacid)-1,2,4-triazine disodium salt (PDTS), 3-(4-(4-phenylsulphonic-acid)-2-pyridyl)-5,6-bis(4-phenylsulphonic-acid)-1,2,4-triazine trisodium salt (PPDTS), or 2,4-bis(5,6-bis(4-phenylsulphonic-acid)-1,2,4-triazin-3-yl)pyridine tetra sodium salt (BDTPS), iron(III) oxidizes hydroxylamine to nitrogen gas, semicarbazide to CO₂ and NH₃ and thiosemicarbazide to a disulfide. The corresponding iron product is the 1:3 complex of iron(II) and PDTS, PPDTS, or BDTPS. The kinetics of these reactions was studied by monitoring the iron(II) product by conventional spectrophotometry. The reaction is first order in iron(III). Kinetic evidence was obtained for the formation of 1:1:2 ternary complexes of iron(III), substrate, and sulfonated triazine. Evidence for the ternary intermediate complexes was obtained by ion-exchange studies using ⁵⁹Fe-labeled iron(III) solutions. The dissociation of the ternary complex is identified as the rate-determining step.     

Vapor-liquid equilibria of ternary systems with 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethyl sulfate using headspace gas chromatography

Vapor-liquid equilibria (VLE) for two binary systems 1-propanol + water and methyl acetate + methanol, and the ternary mixtures with the ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethyl sulfate [EMIM]⁺[EtSO₄]⁻ as entrainer were measured by headspace gas chromatography. From the experimental VLE data, the influence of the ionic liquid on the separation factors was investigated. The experimental results for the ternary systems show that [EMIM]⁺[EtSO₄]⁻ has a great influence on the separation factors of the systems investigated. Furthermore, the experimental separation factors were compared with the predicted ones of other ionic liquids and conventional selective solvents using modified UNIFAC (Dortmund).     

Thiophene separation from aliphatic hydrocarbons using the 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethylsulfate ionic liquid

The ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethylsulfate has been tested as solvent for the separation of thiophene from aliphatic hydrocarbons. Liquid–liquid equilibrium data have been determined for ternary systems containing the ionic liquid, thiophene and C₆, C₇, C₁₂ or C₁₆ alkanes at T = 298.15 K. The performance of the ionic liquid as solvent in such systems has been evaluated. The experimental data were correlated using the NRTL and UNIQUAC equations, and the binary interaction parameters have been reported. The phase diagrams for the ternary mixtures including both the experimental and calculated tie-lines have been presented.     

Photochemistry of purine 3-oxides in hydroxylic solvents

UV irradiation of the potent oncogen hypoxanthine 3-oxide in aqueous solution induces elimination of and rearrangement of the nitrogen-bound oxygen. The extent of each reaction shows a complex variation over the pH range 0–7. The variations in quantum yield for product formation are shown to result from the presence in the neutral molecule of tautomeric species with differing photochemistries that ionize in the excited state (pK_a^* ～ 3.5) just above the protonation pK_a (1.2). The photochemical reactivity of each ionic and each tautomeric form was assigned by comparing the effect of pH changes between 0 and 11 on the quantum yields for formation of each photoproduct from hypoxanthine 3-oxide with those of two model compounds, 1-hydroxyhypoxanthine and 6-methoxypurine 3-oxide. Photoreduction of the 3-oxides occurs via the triplet state. This process has a relatively consistent low quantum yield (Φ = 0.005 to 0.04) for most ionic and tautomeric forms of both purine 1-oxides and purine 3-oxides. Photorearrangement is a much more efficient process for purine 3-oxides (Φ = 0.3) than for purine 1-oxides (Φ = 0.04).     

Remarkable reactivity enhancement with Sb?N inter-coordination of ethynyl-1,5-azastibocines in Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions with organic halides

The reaction of 12-arylethynyl-6-methyl-5,6,7,12-tetrahydrodibenzo[c,f][1,5]-azastibocines with organic halides such as acyl halides and aryl halides in the presence of PdCl₂(PPh₃)₂ as a catalyst led to the formation of cross-coupling products, alkynyl ketones and diaryl acetylenes, in good yields. The reactivity of the ethynyl group on the 1,5-azastibocines was far superior to that on diphenyl(phenylethynyl)stibane, which brought about marked improvement in the reaction conditions (lower temperature and shorter reaction time) and in the yields of the cross-coupling products. Single-crystal X-ray analysis of the ethynyl-1,5-azastibocine showed the presence of intramolecular Sb?N interaction which should be responsible for the remarkable reactivity enhancement of the 1,5-azastibocines for this type of reaction.     

Studies of Size-Based Selectivity in Aqueous Ternary Complexes of Americium(III) or Lanthanide(III) Cations

Spectrophotometric and calorimetric titrations were used to determine the equilibrium constants (log₁₀ K ₁₁₁) and enthalpies of formation (ΔH ₁₁₁) for aqueous ternary complexes of the form M(L^a)(L^b) (M = Nd³⁺, Sm³⁺, Tb³⁺, Ho³⁺, Er³⁺, or Am³⁺; L^a = DTPA^5?, DO3A^3?, or CDTA^4?; L^b = oxalate (Ox), malonate (Mal), or iminodiacetate (IDA)). Inner-sphere ternary complexes were readily formed with the septadentate DO3A (1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7-triacetic acid) and hexadentate CDTA (trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexanetetraacetic acid) ligands, whose binary complexes have residual metal-coordinated water molecules that are readily displaced by the smaller secondary ligands. The stability constants for the formation of lanthanide–CDTA complexes with Ox, Mal, and IDA generally increase with decreasing ionic radius when steric hindrance is minimal, with the trend in the M(CDTA)^? formation constants overshadowing any size-based reversal in the stepwise ternary complexation constants. Similar ternary complexes with DO3A showed little increase in thermodynamic stability compared to analogous CDTA complexes and no preference for larger Ln cations. The octadentate DTPA (diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid) ligand proved too large to form ternary complexes to a measurable extent with any of the secondary ligands investigated, despite the presence of one residual inner sphere water molecule.     

Can a simple ionic model provide useful enthalpies of formation values?

A simple ionic model is revisited. The model starts with the calculation of lattice energy and thus the thermochemical radii of the ions. These radii allow the calculation of other lattice energies and through a Born–Haber cycle to obtain the enthalpy of formation. By using literature available for experimental data, the model was tested to see if it can provide reliable enthalpies of formation values. As presented in this contribution, the method only applies to binary compounds with both simple and complex ions. As examples of the usefulness of this approach, enthalpies of formation of unmeasured crystalline ionic liquids (Hmim⁺, C₂mim⁺, C₄mim⁺ and NH₄⁺ families) and lanthanide (II) halides were determined. The latter ones were used to address the stability of lanthanide halides in states II and III.     

Ligand-Mediated Revival of Degraded α-CsPbI3 to Stable Highly Luminescent Perovskite

Although α-CsPbI₃ is regarded as an attractive optical luminophore, it is readily degraded to the optically inactive δ-phase under ambient conditions. Here, we present a simple approach to revive degraded (“optically sick”) α-CsPbI₃ through “medication” with thiol-containing ligands. The effect of different types of thiols is systematically studied through optical spectroscopy. The structural reconstruction of degraded α-CsPbI₃ nanocrystals to cubic crystals in the presence of thiol-containing ligands is visualized through high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and supported by X-ray diffraction analysis. We found that 1-dodecanethiol (DSH) effectively revives degraded CsPbI₃ and results in high immunity towards moisture and oxygen, hitherto unreported. DSH facilitates the passivation of surface defects and etching of degraded Cs₄PbI₆ phase, thus reverting them back to the cubic CsPbI₃ phase, leading to enhanced PL and environmental stability.     

Electron-enriched thione enables strong Pb–S interaction for stabilizing high quality CsPbI3 perovskite films with low-temperature processing

Cesium lead iodide (CsPbI₃) perovskite is a promising photovoltaic material with a suitable bandgap and high thermal stability. However, it involves complicated phase transitions, and black-phase CsPbI₃ is mostly formed and stabilized at high temperatures (200–360 °C), making its practical application challenging. Here, for the first time, we have demonstrated a feasible route for growing high quality black-phase CsPbI₃ thin films under mild conditions by using a neutral molecular additive of 4(1H)-pyridinethione (4-PT). The resulting CsPbI₃ thin films are morphologically uniform and phase stable under ambient conditions, consisting of micron-sized grains with oriented crystal stacking. With a range of characterization experiments on intermolecular interactions, the electron-enriched thione group in 4-PT is distinguished to be critical to enabling a strong Pb–S interaction, which not only influences the crystallization paths, but also stabilizes the black-phase CsPbI₃via crystal surface functionalization. The 4-PT based CsPbI₃ achieves 13.88% power conversion efficiency in a p–i–n structured device architecture, and encapsulated devices can retain over 85% of their initial efficiencies after 20 days of storage in an ambient environment, which are the best results among fully low-temperature processed CsPbI₃ photovoltaics.

A neutral molecular additive of 4(1H)-pyridinethione (4-PT) is used for growing high quality black-phase CsPbI₃ thin films at low temperatures.     

Densities and derived thermodynamic properties of ternary mixtures 1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium tetrafluoroborate + ethanol + water at seven pressures and two temperatures

This work is a continuation of our studies on experimental measurements of physical properties on binary mixtures of the ionic liquid (IL) family 1-alkyl-3-methyl imidazolium tetrafluoroborate (CnMIM-BF₄) with water and ethanol. Here, we present density for the ternary system Butyl-MIM-BF₄ + ethanol + water at two temperatures (298.15 K and 323.15 K) and seven pressures (from 0.1 to 30 MPa). It should be noted that BMIM-BF₄ is the only IL of the family CnMIM-BF₄ that can be mixed with water and ethanol in all range of concentrations at room conditions. From the density data measured in function of pressure and temperature other important derived thermodynamic properties can be calculated, such us excess molar volumes, isothermal compressibility, isobaric expansion and the thermal pressure coefficients. These properties for selected ternary mixtures will be discussed and compared with data from the scarce number of published results for similar ternary mixtures with this same IL.