Unravelling Atomic Structure and Degradation Mechanisms of Organic-Inorganic Halide Perovskites by Cryo-EM.

ABSTRACT: Despite rapid progress of hybrid organic-inorganic halide perovskite solar cells, using transmission electron microscopy to study their atomic structures has not been possible because of their extreme sensitivity to electron beam irradiation and environmental exposure. Here, we develop cryogenic-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) protocols to preserve an extremely sensitive perovskite, methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI₃) under various operating conditions for atomic-resolution imaging. We discover the precipitation of lead iodide nanoparticles on MAPbI₃ nanowire's surface after short UV illumination and surface roughening after only 10 s exposure to air, while these effects remain undetected in conventional x-ray diffraction. We establish a definition for critical electron

SUBMITTER: Li Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8186345 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature