Mapping Morphological and Structural Properties of Lead Halide Perovskites by Scanning Nanofocus XRD. (12th October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lilliu, Samuele; Dane, Thomas G.; Alsari, Mejd; Griffin, Jonathan; Barrows, Alexander T.; Dahlem, Marcus S.; Friend, Richard H.; Lidzey, David G.; Macdonald, J. E.
• Is Part Of: Advanced functional materials. Volume 26:Number 45(2016)
• Page Start: 8221
• Page End: 8230
• Publication Date: 2016-10-12
• Subjects: mixed lead halide perovskites -- scanning nanofocus X‐ray diffraction -- solar cells, scanning electron microscopy, grazing‐incidence wide‐angle X‐ray scattering; Materials -- Periodicals; Chemical vapor deposition -- Periodicals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201603446
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1616-301X

Abstract

Abstract : Scanning nanofocus X‐ray diffraction (nXRD) performed at a synchrotron is used to simultaneously probe the morphology and the structural properties of spin‐coated CH3 NH3 PbI3 (MAPI) perovskite films for photovoltaic devices. MAPI films are spin‐coated on a Si/SiO2 /poly(3, 4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) substrate held at different temperatures during the deposition in order to tune the perovskite film coverage. The films are then investigated using nXRD and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The advantages of nXRD over SEM and other techniques are discussed. A method to visualize, selectively isolate, and structurally characterize single perovskite grains buried within a complex, polycrystalline film is developed. The results of nXRD measurements are correlated with solar cell device measurements, and it is shown that spin‐coating the perovskite precursor solution at elevated temperatures leads to improved surface coverage and enhanced solar cell performance. Abstract : Scanning nanofocus X‐ray diffraction is used to simultaneously probe the morphology and the structural properties of spin‐coated CH3 NH3 PbI3 perovskite films. The technique allows for perovskite grain segmentation based on a variety of structural properties and is used to understand why spin‐coating the perovskite precursor solution at elevated temperature leads to improved surface coverage and enhanced solar cell performance.