Tin Halide Perovskite Epitaxial Films on Gold Surfaces: Atomic Structure and Stability

Madad Abbasli*, Jeremy Hieulle, Jenny Schrage, Dina Wilks, Abdus Samad, Udo Schwingenschlögl, Alex Redinger, Carsten Busse, Robin Ohmann*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Tin-based halide perovskite solar cells can be efficient and environmentally friendly substitutions to lead-based halide perovskite solar cells, but they have a drawback due to oxidation from Sn2+ to Sn4+. Using vacuum deposition, epitaxially aligned CsSnBr3 ultrathin films are prepared on Au(111) and Au(100) and characterized with scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), low-energy electron diffraction (LEED), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). By co-evaporation of the precursor molecules CsBr and SnBr2, few monolayers of perovskite are obtained. On Au(111), CsSnBr3 grows in three differently oriented domains due to the hexagonal symmetry of the substrate. On Au(100), which has square symmetry, identical to CsSnBr3, but with about half the lattice constant of the perovskite, a (2×2) superstructure is observed. The perovskite is terminated with the (001) facet showing a square surface structure in agreement with density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Chemical analysis is performed in ultra-high vacuum (UHV) conditions and no indication of a tin oxidation state higher than Sn2+ is found in the films. However, after exposure to air, rapid and severe changes in the films are observed, highlighting the importance of preparing tin perovskites in a controlled environment to maintain their stability and avoid oxidation-related issues.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number2403680
JournalAdvanced Functional Materials
Volume34
Issue number40
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1 2024

Keywords

  • DFT calculation
  • low energy electron diffraction (LEED)
  • scanning tunneling microscopy (STM)
  • tin halide perovskite
  • X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS)

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • General Chemistry
  • Biomaterials
  • General Materials Science
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Electrochemistry

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