2D Pb-Halide Perovskites Can Self-Heal Photodamage Better than 3D Ones

Adding a 2D character to halide perovskite (HaP) active layers in ambient-protected cells can improve their stability drastically, which is not obvious from the hydrophobicity of the large cations that force the HaP into a 2D structure. Results of two-photon confocal microscopy are reported to study inherent photo-stability of 2D Pb iodide HaPs in the interior of single crystals. Compared to 3D HaP crystals, 2D ones have higher photo-stability and, under a few sun-equivalent conditions, self-heal efficiently after photo-damage. Using both photoluminescence (PL) intensities (as function of time after photo-damage) and spectra, self-healing dynamics of 2D HaP (C4H9NH3)2PbI4, 2D/3D (C4H9NH3)2(CH3NH3)2Pb3I10 and 3D MAPbI3 are compared. Differences in response to photo-damage and self-healing ability from different degrees of photo-damage are found between these HaPs. Based on the findings, a possible chemical mechanism for photo-damage and self-healing of the 2D HaPs is suggested: the layered lattice arrangement limits out-diffusion of degradation products, facilitating damage reversal, leading to better 2D HaP photo-stability and self-healing uniformity than for 2D/3D HaPs. One implication of the layered structures’ resilience to photo-damage is transfer of their increased stability to devices made with them, such as photovoltaic solar cells and light-emitting diodes.