Charge Transport and Photoconductivity in a Hybrid Uranium(IV) Halide Perovskite

Hybrid metal halide perovskites are extensively synthesized using p- and d-elements. However, the properties of hybrid halide perovskites involving 5f-elements are still elusive. Herein, we first report the semiconductive property of a uranium-bearing hybrid halide perovskite, [N(C₂H₅)₄]₂UCl₆ (EAUCl). Single crystal X-ray crystallography demonstrates that EAUCl adopts a zero-dimensional molecular structure consisting of isolated [UCl₆]^2- anions and organic cations. The intrinsically semiconductive property endows EAUCl with obvious charge transport and photoconductivity, with a high carrier mobility lifetime (μτ) product of 9.91 × 10^-4 cm²/V and a photocurrent on-off ratio of 380 under X-ray excitation. Theoretical calculations corroborate that the U 5f orbitals are involved in electron transitions and the formation of band structure.