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Exploring Nanoscale Structure in Perovskite Precursor Solutions Using Neutron and Light Scattering.
Mary E O'Kane1, Joel A Smith1, Rachel C Kilbride1
1Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Sheffield, The Hicks Building, Sheffield S3 7RH, United Kingdom.
Chemistry of Materials : a Publication of the American Chemical Society
|August 29, 2022
Summary
Researchers studied perovskite solution inks using scattering techniques. They found that while dynamic light scattering (DLS) can be misleading, small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) and spin-echo SANS (SESANS) reveal mostly 1-2 nm particles, with MAPbI3 solutions aging faster.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Chemistry
Background:
- Precise control over metal halide perovskite solution chemistry is crucial for device performance.
- Understanding precursor aggregation and coordination is key to tailoring perovskite inks.
- Existing methods for characterizing perovskite solutions have limitations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the nanostructure and colloidal properties of perovskite solutions.
- To compare the colloidal stability of MAPbI3 and triple-cation mixed-halide perovskite solutions.
- To evaluate the suitability of scattering techniques for analyzing perovskite inks.
Main Methods:
- Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) was used to assess particle size distribution.
- Small Angle Neutron Scattering (SANS) and Spin-Echo SANS (SESANS) were employed to probe nanostructures from 1 nm to 10 μm.
- The Teubner-Strey model was applied to SANS data for microemulsion analysis.
Main Results:
- DLS was found to potentially misrepresent the size distribution of perovskite colloidal dispersions.
- SANS/SESANS confirmed that perovskite solutions primarily consist of 1-2 nm particles.
- Larger colloids, if present, constitute less than 0.005% of the total dispersion volume.
- MAPbI3 solutions exhibited more significant aging effects compared to triple-cation solutions.
Conclusions:
- SANS and SESANS are reliable techniques for characterizing perovskite solution nanostructures.
- The Teubner-Strey model offers a viable approach for studying perovskite solution structure, composition, and stability.
- Triple-cation perovskite solutions demonstrate superior colloidal stability over time compared to MAPbI3 solutions.
