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We present a design strategy for fabricating ultrastable phase-pure films of formamidinium lead iodide (FAPbI3) by lattice templating using specific two-dimensional (2D) perovskites with FA as the cage cation. When a pure FAPbI3 precursor solution is brought in contact with the 2D perovskite, the black phase forms preferentially at 100°C, much lower than the standard FAPbI3 annealing temperature of 150°C. X-ray diffraction and optical spectroscopy suggest that the resulting FAPbI3 film compresses slightly to acquire the (011) interplanar distances of the 2D perovskite seed. The 2D-templated bulk FAPbI3 films exhibited an efficiency of 24.1% in a p-i-n architecture with 0.5-square centimeter active area and an exceptional durability, retaining 97% of their initial efficiency after 1000 hours under 85°C and maximum power point tracking.

Hybrid perovskite semiconductor materials are predicted to lock chirality into place and encode asymmetry into their electronic states, while softness of their crystal lattice accommodates lattice strain to maintain high crystal quality with low defect densities, necessary for high luminescence yields. We report photoluminescence quantum efficiencies as high as 39% and degrees of circularly polarized photoluminescence of up to 52%, at room temperature, in the chiral layered hybrid lead-halide perovskites (R/S/Rac)-3BrMBA2PbI4 [3BrMBA = 1-(3-bromphenyl)-ethylamine]. Using transient chiroptical spectroscopy, we explain the excellent photoluminescence yields from suppression of nonradiative loss channels and high rates of radiative recombination. We further find that photoexcitations show polarization lifetimes that exceed the time scales of radiative decays, which rationalize the high degrees of polarized luminescence. Our findings pave the way toward high-performance solution-processed photonic systems for chiroptical applications and chiral-spintronic logic at room temperature.

In the fast-evolving field of halide perovskite semiconductors, the 2D perovskites (A')2(A) n-1M n X3n+1 [where A = Cs+, CH3NH3+, HC(NH2)2+; A' = ammonium cation acting as spacer; M = Ge2+, Sn2+, Pb2+; and X = Cl-, Br-, I-] have recently made a critical entry. The n value defines the thickness of the 2D layers, which controls the optical and electronic properties. The 2D perovskites have demonstrated preliminary optoelectronic device lifetime superior to their 3D counterparts. They have also attracted fundamental interest as solution-processed quantum wells with structural and physical properties tunable via chemical composition, notably by the n value defining the perovskite layer thickness. The higher members (n > 5) have not been documented, and there are important scientific questions underlying fundamental limits for n To develop and utilize these materials in technology, it is imperative to understand their thermodynamic stability, fundamental synthetic limitations, and the derived structure-function relationships. We report the effective synthesis of the highest iodide n-members yet, namely (CH3(CH2)2NH3)2(CH3NH3)5Pb6I19 (n = 6) and (CH3(CH2)2NH3)2(CH3NH3)6Pb7I22 (n = 7), and confirm the crystal structure with single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and provide indirect evidence for "(CH3(CH2)2NH3)2(CH3NH3)8Pb9I28" ("n = 9"). Direct HCl solution calorimetric measurements show the compounds with n > 7 have unfavorable enthalpies of formation (ΔHf), suggesting the formation of higher homologs to be challenging. Finally, we report preliminary n-dependent solar cell efficiency in the range of 9-12.6% in these higher n-members, highlighting the strong promise of these materials for high-performance devices.

Ternary cuprous (Cu+)‐based metal halides, represented by cesium copper iodide (e.g., CsCu2I3 and Cs3Cu2I5), are garnering increasing interest for light‐emitting applications owing to their intrinsically high photoluminescence quantum yield and direct band gap. Toward electrically driven light‐emitting diodes (LEDs), it is highly desirable for the light emitters to have a high structural dimensionality as it may favor efficient electrical injection. However, unlike lead‐based halide perovskites whose light‐emitting units can be facilely arranged in three‐dimensional (3D) ways, to date, nearly all ternary Cu+‐based metal halides crystallize into 0D or 1D networks of Cu−X (X=Cl, Br, I) polyhedra, whereas 3D and even 2D structures remain mostly uncharted. Here, by employing a fluorinated organic cation, we report a new kind of ternary Cu+‐based metal halides, (DFPD)CuX2 (DFPD+=4,4‐difluoropiperidinium), which exhibits unique 2D layered crystal structure. Theoretical calculations reveal a highly dispersive conduction band of (DFPD)CuBr2, which is beneficial for charge carrier injection. It is also of particular significance to find that the 2D (DFPD)CuBr2 crystals show appealing properties, including improved ambient stability and an efficient warm white‐light emission, making it a promising candidate for single‐component lighting and display applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The performance and operational stability of perovskite‐based devices heavily rely on the interfacial properties between the photoactive perovskite layer and charge transport layers. Understanding the theoretical relationship between surface/interface dipoles and surface energetics is crucial for scientific understanding and practical applications. In this study, a method is applied that bridges classical electromagnetism and modern atomistic approaches. The impact of dipolar ligand molecules functionalizing the FASnI3 perovskite surface is investigated, with inspection of the interplay between surface dipole, charge transfer, and local strain effect, and corresponding shifts in the valence level. The results reveal that the contribution of individual molecular entities to surface dipoles and electric susceptibilities follows an essentially additive behavior. The influence of F doping usually used to mitigate Sn oxidation in Sn‐based layer for photovoltaic applications, is also discussed. Furthermore, the findings are compared with predictions from classical approaches employing a capacitor model that links the induced vacuum level shift and the molecular dipole moment. The insights gained from the study provide theoretical guidelines for fine‐tuning the work functions of materials, thus enabling effective interfacial engineering in this class of semiconductors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two dimensional/three‐dimensional (2D/3D) metal halide perovskite heterostructures have attracted great interest in photovoltaic and light‐emitting diode (LEDs) applications. In both, their implementation results in an improvement in device efficiency yet the understanding of these heterostructures remains incomplete. In this work the role of organic cations, essential for the formation of 2D perovskite structures is unraveled, in a range of metal halide perovskite heterostructures. These heterostructures are used to fabricate efficient green perovskite LEDs and a strong dependence between cation content and device performance is shown. The crystal structure, charge‐carrier transport and dynamics, and the electronic structure of these heterostructures are studied and it is shown that the presence of crystalline 2D perovskite inhibits electron injection and ultimately lowers device performance. This work highlights the importance of optimizing the composition of these heterostructures in ensuring optimal device performance across all parameters and suggests that developing routes to inject charge‐carriers directly into 2D perovskite structures will be important in ensuring the continued development of perovskite LEDs based on these heterostructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Layered halide perovskites are solution‐processed natural heterostructures where quantum and dielectric confinement down to the nanoscale strongly influence the optical properties, leading to stabilization of bound excitons. Detailed understanding of the exciton properties is crucial to boost the exploitation of these materials in energy conversion and light emission applications, with on‐going debate related to the energy order of the four components of the most stable exciton. To provide theoretical feedback and solve among contrasting literature reports, this work performs ab initio solution of the Bethe–Salpeter equation (BSE) for symmetrized reference Cs2PbX4 (X = I and Br) models, with detailed interpretation of the spectroscopic observables based on group‐theory analysis. Simulations predict the following Edark < Ein‐plane < Eout‐of‐plane fine‐structure assignment, consistent with recent magneto‐absorption experiments and obtain similar increase in dark/bright splitting when going from lead‐iodide to a lead‐bromide composition as found experimentally. The authors further suggest that polar distortions may lead to stabilization of the in‐plane component and end‐up in a bright lowest exciton component, discuss exciton landscape over a broad energy range and clarify the exciton spin‐character, when large spin‐orbit coupling is in play, to rationalize the potential of halide perovskites as triplet sensitizers in combination with organic dyes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the field of perovskite solar cells (PSCs), 3D/2D heterostructures are promising candidates to obtain highly efficient and stable devices. Herein, inspired by dications that have afforded rare layered perovskites called Dion–Jacobson (DJ), with short interlayer distances, we designed and synthesized the new 2-iodopropane-1,3-diamonium dication (DicI), and we successfully obtained multi-n 2D layered perovskites (DicI)(MA)n−1PbnI3n+1 (n = 1–4, MA+ = methylammonium). As a result of a suitable size of the dication which fits well, in projection to the layer planes, in the square defined by four adjacent apical iodides, as well as halogen bonding between organic iodine and apical iodides (I(ap)) of perovskite layers, a perfect eclipsed configuration between adjacent layers takes place, yielding unprecedented short I(ap)⋯I(ap) distances, as small as 3.882 Å in (DicI)(MA)2Pb3I10. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations highlight unusually strong valence band dispersion along the Γ → Z direction. Effective masses for out-of-plane motions of holes are estimated on par with values computed for 3D perovskites, and similar to in-plane effective masses in 2D multilayered perovskites. This indicates that these layered compounds feature quasi 3D electronic structures, hence appearing as promising candidates for PSC heterostructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ternary indium (In)‐based metal halides are gaining increased attention as promising lead (Pb)‐free alternatives for light‐emitting diodes (LEDs) owing to their broadband emission and high photoluminescence quantum yields (PLQYs). However, most of the pure In‐based compositions suffer from instability against moisture and thermal stress, leading to a rapid degradation of material and hence their optical properties. Herein, a new kind of organic–inorganic hybrid In‐based metal halide BA6InCl9 (BA+ = C4H11N+) is presented, which exhibits stable crystal structure and material composition at both ambient (over 5 months) and heating conditions (up to 200 °C). Besides, the Huang‐Rhys factor of ≈4.94 determined for BA6InCl9 is considerably smaller than most Pb‐free perovskites, which suggests a relatively weak exciton‐phonon coupling in these crystals. By trace amounts of antimony (III) (Sb3+) doping, the PLQY of the BA6InCl9 single crystals can be markedly improved from ≈25% to 95%, and the ensuing down‐conversion LEDs exhibit bright orange‐red emission with an external quantum efficiency of 0.12%, which retains ≈50% of the initial luminance after 380 min of continuous operation in ambient air. It is forseen that the study will prompt future research on In‐based metal halides and their use in stable light‐emitting applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Styrylpyrimidines with bulky 9,9-dimethylacridan, phenoxazine and phenothiazine electron-donating fragments were designed. Thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) properties were expected for these structures. These chromophores exhibit peculiar emission properties. For 9,9-dimethylacridan and phenoxazine derivatives, a single emission highly sensitive to the polarity is observed in solution whereas for phenothiazine derivative a dual emission is observed in solution and is attributed to the coexistence of quasi-axial (Qax) and quasi-equatorial (Qeq) conformers. This study intends to understand through theoretical and experimental works, why the studied chromophores do not exhibit TADF properties, contrary to what was expected. The absence of phosphorescence both at room temperature and 77 K tends to indicate the impossibility to harvest triplet states in these systems. Wave-function based calculations show that for both conformers of the three chromophores the S1–T1 splitting is significantly larger than 0.2 eV. The second triplet state T2 of Qeq conformers is found very close in energy to the singlet S1 state, but S1 and T2 states possess similar charge transfer characters. This prevents efficient spin–orbit coupling between the states, which is consistent with the absence of TADF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]