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The design of lead-free perovskite thin films with tunable optoelectronic properties is a hot topic in materials science, since it might enable the discovery of interesting properties outside the extensively explored field of photovoltaic solar cells. Herein, we report on the bending strain sensitivity of a lead-free hybrid organic–inorganic monodimensional iodide (TMSO)3Sn3xBi2(1−x)I9 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) showing complete miscibility of Bi3+ and Sn2+, with TMSO being trimethylsulfoxonium. As previously shown in monodimensional haloplumbates, vacant cation sites are formed upon Bi3+ insertion, which in turn lead to the tunable shrinkage of the unit cell along the a axis. The effective substitution of Bi3+ and Sn2+ and their chemical state are investigated with EXAFS/XANES. Notably, Bi3+ also lowers the bandgap from 2.75 eV to 1.96 eV. Thin films prepared by spin coating on flexible ITO/PET supports are then used to assess the bending strain sensitivity as a function of composition, reaching an optimal value of the gauge factor (about 110 at 0.6% strain) at the highest Bi3+ concentration. The observed features are explained in terms of the surface morphology of the films as probed by AFM, highlighting the role of Bi3+. The effects on microstructural and electrical features after strain are further investigated by SEM and EIS, underpinning the key role of microcracks and delamination for triggering the observed responsivity to bending strain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Layered TiS2 intercalated with linear alkylamines has recently attracted significant interest as a model compound for flexible n-type thermoelectric applications, showing remarkably high power factors at room temperature. The thermal and, particularly, environmental stability of such materials is, however, a still an open challenge. In this paper, we show that amine-intercalated TiS2 prepared by a simple mechanochemical process is prone to chemical decomposition through sulfur exsolution, and that the presence of molecular oxygen is likely to mediate the decomposition reaction. Through computational analysis of the possible reaction pathways, we propose that Ti-N adducts are formed as a consequence of amine groups substituting for S vacancies on the internal surfaces of the S-Ti-S layers. These findings provide insights for possible future applications of similar hybrid compounds as devices operating in ambient conditions, and suggest isolating them from atmospheric oxygen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structures of the disordered 1D (pseudo-)perovskites of general TMSO(Pb x Bi y)I3 formulation [TMSO = (CH3)3SO+], obtained by doping the TMSOPbI3 species with Bi3+ ions, are investigated through the formulation of a statistical model of correlated disorder, which addresses the sequences of differently occupied BI6 face-sharing octahedra (B = Pb, Bi or vacant site) within ideally infinite [(BI3)âˆ'] n chains. The x-ray diffraction patterns simulated on the basis of the model are matched to the experimental traces, which show many broad peaks with awkward (nearly trapezoidal) shapes, under the assumption that the charge balance is fully accomplished within each chain. The analysis allowed to establish a definite tendency of the metal species to cluster as pure Pb and Bi sequences. The application of the model is discussed critically, in particular as what concerns the possibility that further B-site neighbors beyond the second may influence the overall B-site occupancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A combined experimental and theoretical study of Mg-doped LaGaO3 electrolyte was carried out, with the aim to unveil the interaction between oxygen vacancy (Vo) and perovskite B site cations. LaGaO3 (LG) and LaGa0.875Mg0.125O2.938 (LGM0125) samples were comprehensively characterized by X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and X-ray diffraction, in order to investigate short- and long-range structures of both undoped and Mg-doped materials. XAS analysis evidenced a preferential Ga-Vo interaction in LGM0125, confirmed by periodic hybrid density functional theory calculations, which were combined with a symmetry-independent classes (SICs) approach in order to (a) obtain a detailed picture of the different Mg and Vo configurations in the doped material and (b) characterize the structural features of the conducting sites. Among the 28 structures of LGM0125 considered in the SIC approach, the Ga-Vo-Ga and Ga-Vo-Mg axial configurations (oriented along the b crystallographic axis) were found to be the most stable. The relative stability of all vacancy configurations considered could be related to geometric distortions of the B-sites, possibly significantly affecting the oxygen-ion diffusion process in such electrolytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The catalyst Pt(1 wt %)/Ce(sub 0.6)Zr(sub 0.4)O(sub 2) is studied by CO-temperature programmed reduction (CO-TPR), isothermal oxygen storage complete capacity (OSCC), and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). XAS analysis allows one to evidence the formation of a platinum-cerium alloy in redox-aged samples and the stability of the metal particles toward oxidation and sintering during high-temperature treatments.

The recently described monodimensional hybrid pseudo-perovskite ((CH3)3SO)PbI3 exhibits complete Pb2+/Bi3+ miscibility in the B site. Heterovalent substitution imposes that charge-compensating defects are introduced in the lattice as well. This paper reports the energetics of point defects and the interaction between charge-compensating defects that occur upon Bi3+ doping in ((CH3)3SO)PbI3. Periodic DFT simulations were employed to analyze the formation energy of Pb2+ vacancies, (CH3)3SO+ vacancies, iodide vacancies, or the insertion of interstitial iodide ions. Solid solutions with a large Bi3+ content were modeled considering different charge compensation defects (Pb2+ vacancies, (CH3)3SO+ vacancies, and interstitial iodide) to consider electrical neutrality. Both the formation energy evaluation and the structural parameters after relaxation are in very good agreement with available experimental data (both X-ray diffraction and absorption spectroscopy), confirming that Pb2+ vacancies are indeed the primary ionic charge-compensation mechanism leading to solid solutions described by the formula ((CH3)3SO)3Pb3xBi2(1−x)V(1−x)I9 (0 < x < 1), where V indicates a B site vacancy. As a consequence of the complete miscibility, the defect concentration at intermediate compositions is considerable, and it is probably responsible for various peculiar structural effects observed, e.g., in ((CH3)3SO)3Pb0.99Bi1.34I9, which are related to short-range order phenomena in the chain composition. Atomistic simulations were then carried out to estimate defect–defect interactions as a function of their respective positions inside the linear PbI6/BiI6 octahedral chains. The resulting bond energies for atom pairs and triads effectively explain the relative stability of defect clusters. This approach is expected to shed light on the short-range order in this class of doped materials, but it can be extended to other structures as well. The understanding of defect structures and control of structural and electronic properties have implications for the engineering of doped materials, which find vast applications in optoelectronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic thin films based on naphthalenediimides (NDIs) bearing alkyl substituents have shown interesting properties for application in OLEDs, thermoelectrics, solar cells, sensors and organic electronics. However, the polymorphic versatility attributed to the flexibility of alkyl chains remains a challenging issue, with detrimental implications on the performances. Aryl analogues containing C6H6N2 constitutional isomers are herein investigated as one of the possible way-out strategies. The synthesis of molecular and polymeric species is described, starting from naphthaleneteracarboxyldianhydride with isomeric aromatic amines and hydrazine. The materials are fully characterized by spectroscopy, thermal and structural X-ray diffraction methods, both as bulk powders and thin films, revealing a rich structural landscape. Depending on the stereochemistry of the branching aryls, the compounds show a variety of parallel stacking of the NDI cores, and high structural stability upon heating, up to 560 °C in the polymeric form. Thin films prepared by spin coating from organic solvent solutions and studied by grazing-incidence X-ray diffraction exhibit a high degree of crystallinity indicating the intrinsic tendency of these molecules to self-assemble in an ordered fashion without the need for any post-processing technique. In line with other NDI-based diimides, UV-vis spectroscopy indicates the optical band gaps falling in the visible region (2.87–3.02 eV). DFT calculations reveal a significant lowering of the frontier orbital energies of the hydrazido derivative. Beyond solution processing, the high thermal stability and the absence of polymorphic forms of these materials suggest that sublimation-based routes for films and device preparation can also be followed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structure of (1R,2S)-dodecyl(2-hydroxy-1-methyl-2-phenylethyl)dimethylammonium bromide (DMEB) reverse micelles, at various water-to-surfactant molar ratio (Rw, Rw = [water]/[DMEB]) and DMEB concentrations, has been investigated by small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (EXAFS). SAXS data of dry reverse micelles are consistent with a model of spherical hydrophilic core surrounded by DMEB alkyl chains whose polydispersity decreases significantly with surfactant concentration. By adding water, a sphere to cylinder transition occurs leading to a one-dimensional growth of reverse micellar cores with Rw and surfactant concentration. The observed behavior was taken as an indication that water molecules are confined in the core of DMEB reverse micelles, quite uniformly distributed among them and mainly located among surfactant head groups. EXAFS data allow to focus within the hydrophilic micellar core to solve the short range local environment around the Br- counterion and to follow its changing with surfactant concentration and Rw. Analysis of Fourier transform of the EXAFS spectra indicates the existence of a local order nearby the bromide ions; pointing toward a quite structured hydrophilic core of DMEB reverse micelles. However, as a consequence of the fluid nature of reverse micelles, such local order is lower than that found in the lamellar structure of solid DMEB. Water confinement within the reverse micellar cores induces an increase of the local disorder suggesting an enhancement of the micellar core dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]