Anomalous 3D nanoscale photoconduction in hybrid perovskite semiconductors revealed by tomographic atomic force microscopy

This study investigates the role of grain boundaries (GBs) in hybrid perovskite semiconductors using tomographic atomic force microscopy (T-AFM). The researchers developed a unique approach to create a fully 3D photogenerated carrier transport map at the nanoscale, revealing GBs as highly interconnected conducting channels. Two GB types were identified: Type I GBs exhibiting enhanced carrier mobilities, and Type II GBs showing no significant enhancement. This 3D approach overcomes limitations of surface-based methods, providing crucial insights for optimizing hybrid perovskites for optoelectronic applications.

Jingfeng Song, Yuanyuan Zhou, Nitin P. Padture, Bryan D. Huey