The Laboratory for Interface Science of Printable Electronic Materials (LIPSEM), a part of the Ratcliff Lab, was recently published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society for their work on the degradation of lead halide perovskites, their first publication since joining the School of Material Science and Engineering. Congratulations to Michel De Keersmaecker, Paul Dietrich, Mounib Bahri, Nigel D. Browning, Neal R. Armstrong, and Erin L. Ratcliff for this publication, “Activated Corrosion and Recovery in Lead Mixed-Halide Perovskites Revealed by Dynamic Near-Ambient Pressure X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy,” and for the hard work and exemplary research that it represents.

This research represented a fresh perspective on the degradation mechanism within lead mixed-halide perovskite films, which includes extensive technique development. Using distinct, well-controlled, and relevant operando conditions (under O₂ and white light), LISPEM could quantify corrosion and recovery pathways towards developing strategies to improve long-term stability for use as printable optoelectronic materials. This research opens doors for the development of new ideas and methodologies to investigate inherent and reactive stability as well as self-healing treatments.

Optoelectronic devices are a broad class of electronic components that either emit, control, detect or convert light. Lead halide perovskites in particular are of interest to researchers for their applications in solar panels, LEDS, lasers, transistors, detectors, sensors, and energy storage. The main issue is that their lattice demonstrates a mixed ionic and covalent character that tends to show hysteresis related to facile movement of ions which implies mixed ion and electron conducting behavior. As a result, practical application is often hampered by energetic barriers, stray currents and voltages as well as undesired reactions. This work from LISPEM assesses the nature of these unwanted chemical and electrochemical processes with the ability to differentiate between reactions happening at the surface and in the bulk. This research represents a crucial step towards our understanding of chemical and electrochemical events within hybrid metal halide perovskites under realistic conditions with the expectation that this may lead to strategies for improved performance and stability of printable optoelectronic devices.

The authors would like to express a special thanks to the Office of Naval Research for funding this work under their basic research program. To learn more about LISPEM and the work they’re doing, visit their website linked here.