Reversible Photochromism in ⟨110⟩ Oriented Layered Halide Perovskite.

Kanwat, Anil; Ghosh, Biplab; Ng, Si En; Rana, Prem J S; Lekina, Yulia; Hooper, Thomas J N; Yantara, Natalia; Kovalev, Mikhail et al. · ACS Nano · 2022

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Extending halide perovskites' optoelectronic properties to stimuli-responsive chromism enables switchable optoelectronics, information display, and smart window applications. Here, we demonstrate a band gap tunability (chromism) via crystal structure transformation from three-dimensional FAPbBr<sub>3</sub> to a ⟨110⟩ oriented FA<sub><i>n</i>+2</sub>Pb<sub><i>n</i></sub>Br<sub>3<i>n</i>+2</sub> structure using a mono-halide/cation composition (FA/Pb) tuning. Furthermore, we illustrate reversible photochromism in halide perovskite by modulating the intermediate <i>n</i> phase in the FA<sub><i>n</i>+2</sub>Pb<sub><i>n</i></sub>Br<sub>3<i>n</i>+2</sub> structure, enabling greater control of the optical band gap and luminescence of a ⟨110⟩ oriented mono-halide/cation perovskite. Proton transfer reaction-mass spectroscopy carried out to precisely quantify the decomposition product reveals that the organic solvent in the film is a key contributor to the structural transformation and, therefore, the chromism in the ⟨110⟩ structure. These intermediate <i>n</i> phases (2 ≤ <i>n</i> ≤ ∞) stabilize in metastable states in the FA<sub><i>n</i>+2</sub>Pb<sub><i>n</i></sub>Br<sub>3<i>n</i>+2</sub> system, which is accessible via strain or optical or thermal input. The structure reversibility in the ⟨110⟩ perovskite allowed us to demonstrate a class of photochromic sensors capable of self-adaptation to lighting.