High-pressure behavior of methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI3) hybrid perovskite

TL;DR

This study investigates how methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI3) hybrid perovskite's structure and optical properties change under high pressure, revealing phase transitions, amorphization, and modifications in electronic structure.

Contribution

It provides detailed high-pressure structural and optical data on MAPbI3, identifying phase transitions and their effects on electronic properties, which was previously not well characterized.

Findings

Phase transition to orthorhombic structure at 0.3 GPa

Full amorphization above 3 GPa

Pressure-induced changes in bandgap and photoluminescence

Abstract

In this paper we provide an accurate high-pressure structural and optical study of MAPbI3 hybrid perovskite. Structural data show the presence of a phase transition towards an orthorhombic structure around 0.3 GPa followed by full amorphization of the system above 3 GPa. After releasing pressure the systems keeps the high-pressure orthorhombic phase. The occurrence of these structural transitions is further confirmed by pressure induced variations of the photoluminescence signal at high pressure. These variations clearly indicate that the bandgap value and the electronic structure of MAPI change across the phase transition.