Hybrid Al2O3-CH3NH3PbI3 perovskites towards avoiding toxic solvents

DOI: 10.3390/ma13010243

Authors: Eurig Wyn Jones (Swansea University) , Peter James Holliman (Swansea University) , Leon Bowen (Durham University) , Arthur Connell (Swansea University) , Christopher Kershaw (Swansea University) , Diana Elizabeth Meza-Rojas (Swansea University)
Co-authored by industrial partner: No

Type: Journal Paper
Journal: Materials , VOL 13

State: Published (Approved)
Published: January 2020
Diamond Proposal Number(s): 11161

Abstract: We report the synthesis of organometal halide perovskites by milling CH3NH3I and PbI2 directly with an Al2O3 scaffold to create hybrid Al2O3-CH3NH3PbI3 perovskites, without the use of organic capping ligands that otherwise limit the growth of the material in the three dimensions. Not only does this improve the ambient stability of perovskites in air (100 min versus 5 min for dimethylformamide (DMF)-processed material), the method also uses much fewer toxic solvents (terpineol versus dimethylformamide). This has been achieved by solid-state reaction of the perovskite precursors to produce larger perovskite nanoparticles. The resulting hybrid perovskite–alumina particles effectively improve the hydrophobicity of the perovskite phase whilst the increased thermal mass of the Al2O3 increases the thermal stability of the organic cation. Raman data show the incorporation of Al2O3 shifts the perovskite spectrum, suggesting the formation of a hybrid 3D mesoporous stack. Laser-induced current mapping (LBIC) and superoxide generation measurements, coupled to thermogravimetric analysis, show that these hybrid perovskites demonstrate slightly improved oxygen and thermal stability, whilst ultra-fast X-ray diffraction studies using synchrotron radiation show substantial (20×) increase in humidity stability. Overall, these data show considerably improved ambient stability of the hybrid perovskites compared to the solution-processed material.

Journal Keywords: perovskite; upscaling; lifetime; humidity; coating; stability; non-toxic

Diamond Keywords: Photovoltaics; Semiconductors

Subject Areas: Materials, Energy, Chemistry


Instruments: I12-JEEP: Joint Engineering, Environmental and Processing

Added On: 13/01/2020 14:27

Documents:
materials-13-00243-v2.pdf

Discipline Tags:

Earth Sciences & Environment Sustainable Energy Systems Energy Climate Change Energy Materials Chemistry Materials Science Perovskites Metallurgy Organometallic Chemistry

Technical Tags:

Diffraction X-ray Powder Diffraction