New technique prepares 2-D perovskite single crystals for highest photodetectivity

A research group led by Prof. Liu Shengzhong from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Âé¶¹ÒùÔºics (DICP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Dr. Xu Zhuo at Shaanxi Normal University (SNNU) developed a technique to prepare large 2-D perovskite single crystals to achieve the highest photodetector performance among this type. Their findings were published in Matter.
Due to their promising stability and excellent optoelectronic properties, two-dimensional (2-D) layered organic-inorganic hybrid perovskites have demonstrated better performance in certain applications than their three-dimensional (3-D) counterparts. In particular, 2-D perovskites show better performance in certain optoelectronic devices, especially ones fabricated on the (001) plane.
The scientists developed a surface tension-controlled crystallization method to prepare large 2-D (C6H5C2H4NH3)2PbI4 ((PEA)2PbI4) perovskite single crystals (PSCs). Using this technique, they harvested inch-sized 2-D (PEA)2PbI4 PSCs, with the largest reaching 36 mm in length, resulting in extraordinary device performance.
As predicted using density function theory, their crystal structures show anisotropy-dependent optoelectronic performance. More specifically, the photodetectors fabricated on the (001) plane exhibit responsivity as high as 139.6 A/W, external quantum efficiency of 37,719.6%, detectivity of 1.89 × 1015 cmHz 1/2/W and response speed as fast as 21 microseconds.
These results provide a promising pathway for stable high-performance photodetectors and open a new avenue for commercialization of perovskite single crystals for photoelectronic applications.
More information: Yucheng Liu et al, Surface-Tension-Controlled Crystallization for High-Quality 2D Perovskite Single Crystals for Ultrahigh Photodetection, Matter (2019).
Provided by Chinese Academy of Sciences