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Journal ArticleDOI

Highly narrowband perovskite single-crystal photodetectors enabled by surface-charge recombination

01 Oct 2015-Nature Photonics (Nature Research)-Vol. 9, Iss: 10, pp 679-686
TL;DR: In this paper, a hybrid perovskite single-crystal photodetector with a very narrow spectral response with a full width at half-maximum of <20 nm was presented.
Abstract: Organolead trihalide perovskite is an emerging low-cost, solution-processable material with a tunable bandgap from the violet to near-infrared, which has attracted a great deal of interest for applications in high-performance optoelectronic devices. Here, we present hybrid perovskite single-crystal photodetectors that have a very narrow spectral response with a full-width at half-maximum of <20 nm. The response spectra are continuously tuned from blue to red by changing the halide composition and thus the bandgap of the single crystals synthesized by solution processes. The narrowband photodetection can be explained by the strong surface-charge recombination of the excess carriers close to the crystal surfaces generated by short-wavelength light. The excess carriers generated by below-bandgap excitation locate away from the surfaces and can be much more efficiently collected by the electrodes, assisted by the applied electric field. This provides a new design paradigm for a narrowband photodetector with broad applications where background noise emission needs to be suppressed. Perovskite-based devices typically exhibit broadband spectral responses. Here narrowband (< 20 nm FWHM) response is achieved for a photodetector application.
Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, single-crystal perovskite devices 2-3 mm thick exhibit 16.4% X-ray detection efficiency with sensitivity four times higher than α-Se detectors.
Abstract: Single-crystal perovskite devices 2–3 mm thick exhibit 16.4% X-ray detection efficiency with sensitivity four times higher than α-Se X-ray detectors.

1,136 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The recent advances in passivation of imperfections and suppressing ion migration to achieve improved efficiency and highly stable perovskite solar cells are reviewed.
Abstract: All highly-efficient organic–inorganic halide perovskite (OIHP) solar cells to date are made of polycrystalline perovskite films which contain a high density of defects, including point and extended imperfections. The imperfections in OIHP materials play an important role in the process of charge recombination and ion migration in perovskite solar cells (PSC), which heavily influences the resulting device energy conversion efficiency and stability. Here we review the recent advances in passivation of imperfections and suppressing ion migration to achieve improved efficiency and highly stable perovskite solar cells. Due to the ionic nature of OIHP materials, the defects in the photoactive films are inevitably electrically charged. The deep level traps induced by particular charged defects in OIHP films are major non-radiative recombination centers; passivation by coordinate bonding, ionic bonding, or chemical conversion have proven effective in mitigating the negative impacts of these deep traps. Shallow level charge traps themselves may contribute little to non-radiative recombination, but the migration of charged shallow level traps in OIHP films results in unfavorable band bending, interfacial reactions, and phase segregation, influencing the carrier extraction efficiency. Finally, the impact of defects and ion migration on the stability of perovskite solar cells is described.

1,040 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors review the recent advances and open challenges in the field of solution-processed photodetectors, examining the topic from both the materials and the device perspective and highlighting the potential of the synergistic combination of materials and device engineering.
Abstract: Efficient light detection is central to modern science and technology. Current photodetectors mainly use photodiodes based on crystalline inorganic elemental semiconductors, such as silicon, or compounds such as III–V semiconductors. Photodetectors made of solution-processed semiconductors — which include organic materials, metal-halide perovskites and quantum dots — have recently emerged as candidates for next-generation light sensing. They combine ease of processing, tailorable optoelectronic properties, facile integration with complementary metal–oxide–semiconductors, compatibility with flexible substrates and good performance. Here, we review the recent advances and the open challenges in the field of solution-processed photodetectors, examining the topic from both the materials and the device perspective and highlighting the potential of the synergistic combination of materials and device engineering. We explore hybrid phototransistors and their potential to overcome trade-offs in noise, gain and speed, as well as the rapid advances in metal-halide perovskite photodiodes and their recent application in narrowband filterless photodetection. Conventional photodetectors, made of crystalline inorganic semiconductors, are limited in terms of the compactness and sensitivity they can reach. Photodetectors based on solution-processed semiconductors combine ease of processing, tailorable optoelectronic properties and good performance, and thus hold potential for next-generation light sensing.

934 citations


Cites background from "Highly narrowband perovskite single..."

  • ...Its usage has been now expanded to metal halide perovskite films, single crystals and quantum dots.(73,111,112) Lin et al....

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  • ...developed ultra-narrow band response CCN photodiodes (FWHM < 20nm).(112) As a result of the low energetic disorder of these single crystals, the absorption onset is sharp and consequently very narrow responses of < 20 nm can be achieved (Fig....

    [...]

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a review summarizes advances in understanding the unique physical properties of hybrid perovskites that enable the fabrication of high-efficiency solar cells with high open-circuit voltages, which is crucial for their further development towards commercialization.
Abstract: This Review summarizes advances in understanding the unique physical properties of hybrid perovskites that enable the fabrication of high-efficiency solar cells with high open-circuit voltages, which is crucial for their further development towards commercialization.

846 citations


Cites background from "Highly narrowband perovskite single..."

  • ...The synthesized MAPbI3 bulk single crystals only have two facets of (100) and (112), whereas the polycrystalline films have many orientations, including (110), (202), (310) and (314), as identified from regular X-ray diffraction patterns....

    [...]

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a solution-processed double perovskite Cs2AgBiBr6 single crystals are used to make a sensitive X-ray detector with a minimum detectable dose rate as low as 59.7 nGyair's−1.
Abstract: Sensitive X-ray detection is crucial for medical diagnosis, industrial inspection and scientific research. The recently described hybrid lead halide perovskites have demonstrated low-cost fabrication and outstanding performance for direct X-ray detection, but they all contain toxic Pb in a soluble form. Here, we report sensitive X-ray detectors using solution-processed double perovskite Cs2AgBiBr6 single crystals. Through thermal annealing and surface treatment, we largely eliminate Ag+/Bi3+ disordering and improve the crystal resistivity, resulting in a detector with a minimum detectable dose rate as low as 59.7 nGyair s−1, comparable to the latest record of 0.036 μGyair s−1 using CH3NH3PbBr3 single crystals. Suppressed ion migration in Cs2AgBiBr6 permits relatively large external bias, guaranteeing efficient charge collection without a substantial increase in noise current and thus enabling the low detection limit. Double perovskite Cs2AgBiBr6 single crystals are used to make a sensitive X-ray detector. The device exhibits a high sensitivity of 105 µC Gyair −1 cm−2 and a low detection limit of 59.7 nGyairs−1, and demonstrates long-term operational stability.

812 citations

References
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Journal ArticleDOI
18 Jul 2013-Nature
TL;DR: A sequential deposition method for the formation of the perovskite pigment within the porous metal oxide film that greatly increases the reproducibility of their performance and allows the fabrication of solid-state mesoscopic solar cells with unprecedented power conversion efficiencies and high stability.
Abstract: Following pioneering work, solution-processable organic-inorganic hybrid perovskites-such as CH3NH3PbX3 (X = Cl, Br, I)-have attracted attention as light-harvesting materials for mesoscopic solar cells. So far, the perovskite pigment has been deposited in a single step onto mesoporous metal oxide films using a mixture of PbX2 and CH3NH3X in a common solvent. However, the uncontrolled precipitation of the perovskite produces large morphological variations, resulting in a wide spread of photovoltaic performance in the resulting devices, which hampers the prospects for practical applications. Here we describe a sequential deposition method for the formation of the perovskite pigment within the porous metal oxide film. PbI2 is first introduced from solution into a nanoporous titanium dioxide film and subsequently transformed into the perovskite by exposing it to a solution of CH3NH3I. We find that the conversion occurs within the nanoporous host as soon as the two components come into contact, permitting much better control over the perovskite morphology than is possible with the previously employed route. Using this technique for the fabrication of solid-state mesoscopic solar cells greatly increases the reproducibility of their performance and allows us to achieve a power conversion efficiency of approximately 15 per cent (measured under standard AM1.5G test conditions on solar zenith angle, solar light intensity and cell temperature). This two-step method should provide new opportunities for the fabrication of solution-processed photovoltaic cells with unprecedented power conversion efficiencies and high stability equal to or even greater than those of today's best thin-film photovoltaic devices.

8,427 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
18 Oct 2013-Science
TL;DR: In this article, transient absorption and photoluminescence-quenching measurements were performed to determine the electron-hole diffusion lengths, diffusion constants, and lifetimes in mixed halide and triiodide perovskite absorbers.
Abstract: Organic-inorganic perovskites have shown promise as high-performance absorbers in solar cells, first as a coating on a mesoporous metal oxide scaffold and more recently as a solid layer in planar heterojunction architectures. Here, we report transient absorption and photoluminescence-quenching measurements to determine the electron-hole diffusion lengths, diffusion constants, and lifetimes in mixed halide (CH3NH3PbI(3-x)Cl(x)) and triiodide (CH3NH3PbI3) perovskite absorbers. We found that the diffusion lengths are greater than 1 micrometer in the mixed halide perovskite, which is an order of magnitude greater than the absorption depth. In contrast, the triiodide absorber has electron-hole diffusion lengths of ~100 nanometers. These results justify the high efficiency of planar heterojunction perovskite solar cells and identify a critical parameter to optimize for future perovskite absorber development.

8,199 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
19 Sep 2013-Nature
TL;DR: It is shown that perovskite absorbers can function at the highest efficiencies in simplified device architectures, without the need for complex nanostructures.
Abstract: Many different photovoltaic technologies are being developed for large-scale solar energy conversion. The wafer-based first-generation photovoltaic devices have been followed by thin-film solid semiconductor absorber layers sandwiched between two charge-selective contacts and nanostructured (or mesostructured) solar cells that rely on a distributed heterojunction to generate charge and to transport positive and negative charges in spatially separated phases. Although many materials have been used in nanostructured devices, the goal of attaining high-efficiency thin-film solar cells in such a way has yet to be achieved. Organometal halide perovskites have recently emerged as a promising material for high-efficiency nanostructured devices. Here we show that nanostructuring is not necessary to achieve high efficiencies with this material: a simple planar heterojunction solar cell incorporating vapour-deposited perovskite as the absorbing layer can have solar-to-electrical power conversion efficiencies of over 15 per cent (as measured under simulated full sunlight). This demonstrates that perovskite absorbers can function at the highest efficiencies in simplified device architectures, without the need for complex nanostructures.

7,018 citations

Journal Article
TL;DR: In this paper, transient absorption and photoluminescence-quenching measurements were performed to determine the electron-hole diffusion lengths, diffusion constants, and lifetimes in mixed halide and triiodide perovskite absorbers.
Abstract: Organic-inorganic perovskites have shown promise as high-performance absorbers in solar cells, first as a coating on a mesoporous metal oxide scaffold and more recently as a solid layer in planar heterojunction architectures. Here, we report transient absorption and photoluminescence-quenching measurements to determine the electron-hole diffusion lengths, diffusion constants, and lifetimes in mixed halide (CH3NH3PbI(3-x)Cl(x)) and triiodide (CH3NH3PbI3) perovskite absorbers. We found that the diffusion lengths are greater than 1 micrometer in the mixed halide perovskite, which is an order of magnitude greater than the absorption depth. In contrast, the triiodide absorber has electron-hole diffusion lengths of ~100 nanometers. These results justify the high efficiency of planar heterojunction perovskite solar cells and identify a critical parameter to optimize for future perovskite absorber development.

6,454 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
18 Oct 2013-Science
TL;DR: Two studies show, using a variety of time-resolved absorption and emission spectroscopic techniques, that perovskite materials manifest relatively long diffusion paths for charge carriers energized by light absorption, highlighting effective carrier diffusion as a fruitful parameter for further optimization.
Abstract: Low-temperature solution-processed photovoltaics suffer from low efficiencies because of poor exciton or electron-hole diffusion lengths (typically about 10 nanometers). Recent reports of highly efficient CH3NH3PbI3-based solar cells in a broad range of configurations raise a compelling case for understanding the fundamental photophysical mechanisms in these materials. By applying femtosecond transient optical spectroscopy to bilayers that interface this perovskite with either selective-electron or selective-hole extraction materials, we have uncovered concrete evidence of balanced long-range electron-hole diffusion lengths of at least 100 nanometers in solution-processed CH3NH3PbI3. The high photoconversion efficiencies of these systems stem from the comparable optical absorption length and charge-carrier diffusion lengths, transcending the traditional constraints of solution-processed semiconductors.

5,882 citations