Enthalpies of Formation of La1−xAxMnO3±δ (A=Ca and Sr) Measured by High-Temperature Solution Calorimetry

High-temperature reaction calorimetry using molten lead borate as a solvent has been used to study the thermochemistry of La_1−xA_xMnO₃ (A=Ca and Sr, 0≤x≤1). The structural properties and the oxygen stoichiometry of the calcined powders were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetry, and iodometry. The enthalpy of formation of the materials from their binary constituents has been calculated from measured enthalpy of solutions. The enthalpy of formation of La_1−xCa_xMnO₃ from the component oxides becomes more exothermic with increasing substitution level x due to the increasing valence state of Mn, and demonstrates a nearly linear dependence of the average valence state of manganese. La_1−xSr_xMnO₃ has a significantly more exothermic enthalpy of formation from the binary constituents than the Ca-substituted materials, and demonstrates a negative deviation from ideal behavior. The present thermodynamic data are discussed in relation to the Goldschmidt tolerance factor for the perovskite structure. Finally, the phase stability of Sr- and Ca-substituted LaMnO₃ is addressed in relation to the application of these materials in solid oxide fuel cells.     

Temperature-Dependent Photoluminescence of Hexafluorobenzene-Intercalated Phenethylammonium Tin Iodide 2D Perovskite

Tin halide perovskites are potential alternatives of lead halide perovskites. However, the easy oxidation of Sn²⁺ to Sn⁴⁺ brings in a challenge. Recently, layered two-dimensional hybrid tin halide perovskites have been shown to partially resist the oxidation process because of the presence of hydrophobic organic molecules. Consequently, such layered hybrid perovskites are being explored for optoelectronic applications. The optical properties of layered tin halide perovskites depend on the interlayer separation and the dielectric mismatch between the organic and inorganic layers. Intercalation (insertion) of a molecular species between the layers modifies the interlayer interactions affecting the optical properties of layered hybrid perovskites. We investigated the effect of hexafluorobenzene (HFB) intercalation in phenethylammonium tin iodide [(PEA)₂SnI₄] using temperature-dependent (6 K to 300 K) photoluminescence (PL). HFB intercalation increases the bandgap. A strong PL quenching is observed in pristine (PEA)₂SnI₄ below 150 K, probably because of the presence of non-emissive states. HFB intercalation suppresses the influence of such non-emissive states resulting in an increase in PL intensity at the cryogenic temperatures. Our results highlight that a simple molecular intercalation (non-covalent interaction) into layered hybrid perovskites can significantly tailor the electronic and optical properties.     

Amorphous Hole‐Transporting Material based on 2,2′‐Bis‐substituted 1,1′‐Biphenyl Scaffold for Application in Perovskite Solar Cells

Perovskite solar cells are considered a promising technology for solar‐energy conversion, with power conversion efficiencies currently exceeding 20 %. In most of the reported devices, Spiro‐OMeTAD is used for positive‐charge extraction and transport layer. Although a number of alternative hole‐transporting materials with different aromatic or heteroaromatic fragments have already been synthesized, a cheap and well‐performing hole‐transporting material is still in high demand. In this work, a two‐step synthesis of a carbazole‐based hole‐transporting material is presented. Synthesized compounds exhibited amorphous nature, good solubility and thermal stability. The perovskite solar cells employing the newly synthesized material generated a power conversion efficiency of 16.5 % which is slightly lower than that obtained with Spiro‐OMeTAD (17.5 %). The low‐cost synthesis and high performance makes our hole‐transport material promising for applications in perovskite‐based optoelectronic devices.     

4-氟苯乙胺基准二维钙钛矿的合成及其电致发光与激光性能

设计并开发了一种兼具电致发光和光学增益性能的准二维钙钛矿材料。通过向三维钙钛矿CsPbBr₃中引入大体积阳离子4-FPEA⁺(4-氟苯乙胺),利用简易的溶液旋涂法,制备了不同n值量子阱混合分布的准二维钙钛矿薄膜。通过紫外可见吸收光谱和光致发光光谱证明调整4-FPEA⁺的添加量可以对量子阱的分布进行有效调控。结合扫描电子显微镜和原子力显微镜证明4-FPEA⁺的加入可以降低薄膜表面粗糙度。当4-FPEA⁺和CsPbBr₃的物质的量之比为0.6时,薄膜的发光强度最高。将该材料应用在发光二极管(light emitting diodes,LEDs)中,结合冠醚作为添加剂辅助钝化缺陷,实现了外量子效率(EQE)为0.98%的绿光LED器件。在激光性能方面,该材料在室温条件下的最低阈值为17.42μJ·cm^-2,增益系数为35 cm^-1。     

How Methylammonium Iodide Reactant Size Affects Morphology and Defect Properties of Mechanochemically Synthesized MAPbI3 Powder

Here, we investigate in detail the impact of the size of the methylammonium iodide (MAI) reactants in the mechanochemical powder synthesis of the halide perovskite methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI₃). Morphology and structural characterizations by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction reveal that with increasing MAI reactant size, the particle size of the perovskite powder increases, while its defect density decreases, as suggested by nuclear quadrupole resonance spectroscopy and photoluminescence investigations. The reason for this behavior seems to be associated to the sensitive influence of the MAI size on the time durations of MAPbI₃ synthesis and delayed MAPbI₃ crushing stage during ball milling. Thus, our results emphasize the high importance the reactant properties have on the mechanochemical synthesis of halide perovskites and will contribute to enhance the reproducibility and control of the fabrication of halide perovskites in powder form.     

Distinguishing metal halide molecular clusters from perovskite magic sized clusters in the synthesis of metal halide perovskite nanostructures

Background

Research into perovskite nanocrystals (PNCs) has uncovered interesting properties compared to their bulk counterparts, including tunable optical properties due to size-dependent quantum confinement effect (QCE). More recently, smaller PNCs with even stronger QCE have been discovered, such as perovskite magic sized clusters (PMSCs) and ligand passivated PbX₂ metal halide molecular clusters (MHMCs) analogous to perovskites.

Objective

This review aims to present recent data comparing and contrasting the optical and structural properties of PQDs, PMSCs, and MHMCs, where CsPbBr₃ PQDs have first excitonic absorption around 520 nm, the corresponding PMSCS have absorption around 420 nm, and ligand passivated MHMCs absorb around 400 nm.

Results

Compared to normal perovskite quantum dots (PQDs), these clusters exhibit both a much bluer optical absorption and emission and larger surface-to-volume (S/V) ratio. Due to their larger S/V ratio, the clusters tend to have more surface defects that require more effective passivation for stability.

Conclusion

Recent study of novel clusters has led to better understanding of their properties. The sharper optical bands of clusters indicate relatively narrow or single size distribution, which, in conjunction with their blue absorption and emission, makes them potentially attractive for applications in fields such as blue single photon emission.     

A Quasi-Two-Dimensional Trilayered CsPbBr3-based Dion-Jacobson Hybrid Perovskite toward High-Performance Photodetection

Quasi-two-dimensional (Q-2D) Dion-Jacobson (DJ) organic-inorganic hybrid perovskites based on CsPbBr₃ are promising candidates for photodetection. Previous studies have predicted that the photoresponse of such materials with high inorganic-layer numbers (n) will be more protruding in this portfolio. However, until now, only bilayered (n=2) CsPbBr₃-based DJ-type hybrid perovskites are obtained and the higher number of layers (n>2) remain completely unexplored, owing to the relatively high formation energies. Here, by incorporating diamine into the 3D CsPbBr₃ motif, a new Q-2D trilayered CsPbBr₃-based DJ-type hybrid perovskite that contains organic cation and inorganic Cs metal, namely (4-AMP)Cs₂Pb₃Br₁₀ ( 1 , 4-AMP²⁺=4-(aminomethyl)piperidinium, n=3), is obtained. Excitingly, 1 exhibits excellent photoresponse, superior to its single-layered and bilayered counterparts. The resulting photodetectors thus exhibit a large on/off ratio (>10³), high photodetectivity (6.5×10¹⁰ Jones) and fast response speed (193 μs). As far as we know, 1 is the first Q-2D CsPbBr₃-based DJ-type hybrid perovskites with high n numbers. Our results may widen the range of the potential material in application of photodetection and will be helpful to design hybrid perovskites for other advanced optoelectronic devices.     

Ferroelasticity in Organic–Inorganic Hybrid Perovskites

Molecular ferroelastics have received particular attention for potential applications in mechanical switches, shape memory, energy conversion, information processing, and solar cells, by taking advantages of their low-cost, light-weight, easy preparation, and mechanical flexibility. The unique structures of organic–inorganic hybrid perovskites have been considered to be a design platform for symmetry-breaking-associated order–disorder in lattice, thereby possessing great potential for ferroelastic phase transition. Herein, we review the research progress of organic–inorganic hybrid perovskite ferroelastics in recent years, focusing on the crystal structures, dimensions, phase transitions and ferroelastic properties. In view of the few reports on molecular-based hybrid ferroelastics, we look forward to the structural design strategies of molecular ferroelastic materials, as well as the opportunities and challenges faced by molecular-based hybrid ferroelastic materials in the future. This review will have positive guiding significance for the synthesis and future exploration of organic–inorganic hybrid molecular ferroelastics.     

Impact of Zn-doping on the composition,stability, luminescence properties of silica coated all-inorganic cesium lead bromide nanocrystals and their biocompatibility

Cesium lead halide (CsPbX₃: X = I, Br, Cl) nanocrystals (NCs) are believed to be potential candidates for bioimaging applications. However, their low structural stability against polar solvents remains as a major limitation. To improve the NCs stability and maintain high emission intensity, we synthesized silica coated Zn-doped core@shell perovskite NCs via modified ligand assisted reprecipitation (LARP) synthetic method under relatively high humid condition. We systemically varied the composition inside the perovskite structure and then studied their photophysical properties and stability. Interestingly, the Zn-doping amount controls the ratio of CsPbBr₃ to Cs₄PbBr₆ perovskites inside the core and also facilitates the growth of (OA)₂PbBr₄ shell, enables overall increase in NCs emission intensity and stability. We observed green color emission from these NCs in the spectral range of 494-506 nm with a maximum photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) up to 88%. The optimized Zn-doped NCs exhibited nearly four times better water stability compared to the bare NCs and retain emission properties for several months even in highly polar solvents. Finally, we performed biocompatibility test of the NCs generated on biological samples and hydroponics test in a gardenia leaf for their potential bioimaging applications.     

One and Two-Dimensional 1,4-Xylylenediammonium (pXDA) Lead Halides: Powders and Thin Films

The discovery of new 3D perovskites and their 2D and 1D analogues continues to attract the interest of the scientific community and therefore the understanding of their structural, optical, and physicochemical properties is of fundamental importance. Here, we report the one-pot synthesis and the full characterization of 1D and 2D lead halide polycrystalline solids containing the rather rigid 1,4-xylylenediammonium (pXDA) organic cation as spacer. We isolated 2D Dion-Jacobson (DJ) perovskites, namely (pXDA)PbX₄ (X=Cl, Br) and the mixed halide (pXDA)Pb(Br_1–xI_x)₄ species (all based on 2D monolayers of corner-sharing lead halide octahedra), and, for iodine, the (pXDA)Pb₂I₆ . 2H₂O phase, which contains 1D ribbons. The latter species can be reversibly dehydrated by gentle heating, forming the isomorphous (pXDA)Pb₂I₆. crystal phase. These species, some of which have recently been studied in the frame of broad light emitters and for photovoltaic applications, have been characterized by variable-temperature X-ray diffraction methods, shedding light onto their anisotropic thermal responses, of utmost importance for day-night cycling in functional devices. Spin-coated thin films were also prepared and studied by means of synchrotron radiation grazing incidence X-ray diffraction, SEM imaging and fluorescence spectroscopy experiments.