Controlled nucleation in methylamine-treated perovskite films by artificial seeding and phase-field simulations

TL;DR

This paper combines experimental techniques and phase-field simulations to control nucleation in methylamine-treated perovskite films, enabling the growth of large, defect-reduced crystals for better optoelectronic devices.

Contribution

It introduces a predictive model for nucleation control in perovskite films using phase-field simulations and analytical methods, applicable across various material systems.

Findings

Phase-field simulations accurately predict nucleation behavior.

Controlled nucleation leads to larger, defect-reduced perovskite crystals.

Model applicability demonstrated on three different substrate systems.

Abstract

Large perovskite crystals with reduced defect density enable superior charge transport and stability. Therefore, controlling their nucleation and growth is key to advancing high-performance optoelectronic devices based on perovskite semiconductors. Millimeter-scale perovskite crystals can be synthesized as a continuous film through methylamine treatment, with nucleation sites directed by pre-patterned seeds. Nonetheless, certain configurations may lead to unwanted parasitic nucleation. To predict and mitigate this effect, we employ phase-field simulations alongside an analytical model. Their predictive capability is demonstrated across three distinct material-substrate systems, enabling precise control over nucleation and subsequent crystal growth. Notably, the only material-specific input required is the nucleation density (i.e., the number of crystals nucleated per unit area on an unpatterned substrate). This generality makes the models broadly applicable to diverse material systems for achieving controlled two-dimensional crystallization for improved optoelectronic device performance.