Two-dimensional perovskites, in which inorganic layers are stabilized by organic spacer molecules, are attracting increasing attention as a more robust analogue to the conventional three-dimensional metal-halide perovskites. However, reducing the perovskite dimensionality alters their optoelectronic properties dramatically, yielding excited states that are dominated by bound electron-hole pairs known as excitons, rather than by free charge carriers common to their bulk counterparts. Despite the growing interest in two-dimensional perovskites for both light harvesting and light emitting applications, the full impact of the excitonic nature on their optoelectronic properties remains unclear, particularly regarding the spatial dynamics of the excitons within the two-dimensional (2D) plane.Here, we present direct measurements of in-plane exciton transport in single-crystalline layered perovskites. Using time-resolved fluorescence microscopy, we show that excitons undergo an initial fast, intrinsic normal diffusion through the crystalline plane, followed by a transition to a slower subdiffusive regime as excitons get trapped. Interestingly, the early intrinsic exciton diffusivity depends sensitively on the choice of organic spacer. We find a clear correlation between the stiffness of the lattice and the diffusivity, suggesting exciton-phonon interactions to be dominant in determining the spatial dynamics of the excitons in these materials. Our findings provide a clear design strategy to optimize exciton transport in these systems. lead, tin), X is a halide anion (chloride, bromide, iodide), L is a long organic spacer molecule, and n is the number of octahedra that make up the thickness of the inorganic layer. The separation into fewatom thick inorganic layers yields strong quantum and dielectric confinement effects. 38 As a result, the exciton binding energies in 2D perovskites can be as high as several hundreds of meVs, which is around an order of magnitude larger than those found in bulk perovskites. [39][40][41] The excitonic character of the excited state is accompanied by an effective widening of the bandgap, an increase in the oscillator strength, and a narrowing of the emission spectrum. [40][41][42] The strongest confinement effects are observed for n = 1, where the excited state is confined to a single B-X-octahedral layer (see Figure 1a).Light harvesting using 2D perovskites relies on the efficient transport of excitons and their subsequent separation into free charges. 43 This stands in contrast to bulk perovskites in which free charges are generated instantaneously thanks to the small exciton binding energy. 39 Particularly, with excitons being neutral quasi-particles, the charge extraction becomes significantly more challenging as they cannot be guided to the electrodes through an external electric field. 44 Excitons need to diffuse to an interface before the electron and hole can be efficiently separated into free charges. 45 On the other hand, for light emitting applications the spatial displacement is ...
Two-dimensional layered perovskites are attracting increasing attention as more robust analogues to the conventional three-dimensional metal-halide perovskites for both light harvesting and light emitting applications. However, the impact of the reduced dimensionality on the optoelectronic properties remains unclear, particularly regarding the spatial dynamics of the excitonic excited state within the two-dimensional plane. Here, we present direct measurements of exciton transport in single-crystalline layered perovskites. Using transient photoluminescence microscopy, we show that excitons undergo an initial fast diffusion through the crystalline plane, followed by a slower subdiffusive regime as excitons get trapped. Interestingly, the early intrinsic diffusivity depends sensitively on the choice of organic spacer. A clear correlation between lattice stiffness and diffusivity is found, suggesting exciton-phonon interactions to be dominant in the spatial dynamics of the excitons in perovskites, consistent with the formation of exciton-polarons. Our findings provide a clear design strategy to optimize exciton transport in these systems.
Transient microscopy is of vital importance in understanding the dynamics of optical excited states in optoelectronic materials, as it allows for a direct visualization of the movement of energy carriers in space and time. Important information on trap‐state dynamics can be obtained using this technique, typically observed as a slow‐down of energy transport as carriers are trapped at defect sites. To date, however, studies of the trap‐state dynamics have been mostly limited to phenomenological descriptions of the early time‐dynamics. Here, it is shown how long‐acquisitiontime transient photoluminescence microscopy can be used to provide a detailed map of the trapstate landscape in 2D perovskites, in particular when used in combination with transient spectroscopy. An anomalous evolution of the studied exciton distribution is observed, which cannot be explained with existing models for trap limited exciton transport that only account for a single trap type. Instead, using a continuous diffusion model and performing Brownian dynamics simulations, it is shown that this behavior can be explained by accounting for a distinct distribution of traps in this material. These results highlight the value of transient microscopy as a complementary tool to more common transient spectroscopy techniques in the characterization of excited state dynamics in semiconductors.
Distinction between mobile and trapped tracers in disordered media reveals a simple phenomenological law for the subdiffusive exponent which reproduces the behaviour observed in a wide range of obstacles structures.
Halide mixing is one of the most powerful techniques to tune the optical bandgap of metal-halide perovskites. However, halide mixing has commonly been observed to result in phase segregation, which reduces excited-state transport and limits device performance. While the current emphasis lies on the development of strategies to prevent phase segregation, it remains unclear how halide mixing may affect excited-state transport even if phase purity is maintained. Here, we study exciton transport in phase pure mixed-halide 2D perovskites of (PEA) 2 Pb(I 1– x Br x ) 4 . Using transient photoluminescence microscopy, we show that, despite phase purity, halide mixing inhibits exciton transport. We find a significant reduction even for relatively low alloying concentrations. By performing Brownian dynamics simulations, we are able to reproduce our experimental results and attribute the decrease in diffusivity to the energetically disordered potential landscape that arises due to the intrinsic random distribution of alloying sites.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.