Nanoscale Electromechanical and Conductive Properties of a Layered Two-Dimensional Hybrid Perovskite

Two-dimensional (2D) organic-inorganic hybrid perovskites exhibit coupled ionic, electronic, and electromechanical responses that can strongly influence local charge transport. Here, solution-processed mixed-halide butylammonium lead perovskite crystals were mechanically exfoliated and investigated using X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy, piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM), and conductive atomic force microscopy (c-AFM). PFM measurements under -5, 0, and +5 V revealed clear bias-dependent changes in amplitude and phase, indicating an electric field-sensitive local electromechanical response. Local c-AFM measurements showed nonlinear bipolar hysteresis, with a pronounced increase in current near +7-8 V and a decrease near -7 to -6 V during the subsequent negative sweep. Because the crystals are mixed ionic-electronic conductors and the nanoscale tip-sample junction introduces substantial injection and contact barriers, the observed behavior is interpreted as resistive switching-like conductivity modulation, rather than definitive ferroelectric switching. The results are consistent with the combined contributions of charge injection, trap filling, possible ionic redistribution, and piezoelectricity-associated modulation of the local transport barrier. These findings provide nanoscale insight into electric field-dependent electromechanical and out-of-plane conductive behaviors in layered 2D hybrid perovskites.