Structure of methylammonium lead iodide within mesoporous titanium dioxide: active material in high-performance perovskite solar cells.

Choi, Joshua J; Yang, Xiaohao; Norman, Zachariah M; Billinge, Simon J L; Owen, Jonathan S · Nano Lett · 2014

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

We report the structure of methylammonium lead(II) iodide perovskite in mesoporous TiO2, as used in high-performance solar cells. Pair distribution function analysis of X-ray scattering reveals a two component nanostructure: one component with medium range crystalline order (30 atom %) and another with only local structural coherence (70 atom %). The nanostructuring correlates with a blueshift of the absorption onset and increases the photoluminescence. Our findings underscore the importance of fully characterizing and controlling the structure for improved solar cell efficiency.