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| Open AccessGas-solid reaction based over one-micrometer thick stable perovskite films for efficient solar cells and modules
Perovskite solar cells often suffer from poor uniformity and reproducibility especially in case of large area devices. Here Liu et al. developed a gas−solid reaction method that enables facile fabrication of over 1 µm thick perovskite films for solar modules with high efficiency, stability and reproducibility.
- Zonghao Liu
- , Longbin Qiu
- & Yabing Qi
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Article
| Open AccessA room-temperature sodium–sulfur battery with high capacity and stable cycling performance
Sodium–sulfur batteries operating at a high temperature between 300 and 350°C have been used commercially, but the safety issue hinders their wider adoption. Here the authors report a “cocktail optimized” electrolyte system that enables higher electrochemical performance and room-temperature operation.
- Xiaofu Xu
- , Dong Zhou
- & Guoxiu Wang
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| Open AccessGallium nitride nanowire as a linker of molybdenum sulfides and silicon for photoelectrocatalytic water splitting
Sunlight-harvesting materials require the clean integration of light-absorbing and catalytic components to be efficient. Here, authors link silicon photoelectrodes and molybdenum sulfide catalysts with defect-free gallium nitride nanowire to improve photoelectrochemical hydrogen evolution.
- Baowen Zhou
- , Xianghua Kong
- & Zetian Mi
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Article
| Open AccessRechargeable potassium-ion batteries with honeycomb-layered tellurates as high voltage cathodes and fast potassium-ion conductors
The development of potassium-ion batteries requires cathode materials that can maintain the structural stability during cycling. Here the authors have developed honeycomb-layered tellurates K2M2TeO6 that afford high ionic conductivity and reversible intercalation of large K ions at high voltages.
- Titus Masese
- , Kazuki Yoshii
- & Masahiro Shikano
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Article
| Open AccessCopper-on-nitride enhances the stable electrosynthesis of multi-carbon products from CO2
While multi-carbon (C2+) products present high-value species attainable from emitted carbon dioxide, it is challenging to prepare stable, C2+ selective catalysts. Here, authors support copper on copper nitride to improve copper’s electrocatalytic stability and selectivity toward C2+ synthesis.
- Zhi-Qin Liang
- , Tao-Tao Zhuang
- & Edward H. Sargent
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| Open AccessIn-situ cross-linking strategy for efficient and operationally stable methylammoniun lead iodide solar cells
The stability of perovskite solar cell remains the biggest challenge that hinders its commercialization. Here Li et al. incorporate crosslinkable molecules to form a crosslinked perovskite film and increase the device operational stability by 590 times to 400 h under standard Xenon lamp without filters.
- Xiaodong Li
- , Wenxiao Zhang
- & Junfeng Fang
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Article
| Open AccessA self-improving triboelectric nanogenerator with improved charge density and increased charge accumulation speed
The performance of triboelectric nanogenerators is impacted by charge density, which can be restricted by air breakdown. Here the authors report a self-improving triboelectric nanogenerator that overcomes the limitation, achieving increased charge density, charge accumulation speed, and output current.
- Li Cheng
- , Qi Xu
- & Yong Qin
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Article
| Open AccessLithiophilic-lithiophobic gradient interfacial layer for a highly stable lithium metal anode
Lithium metal batteries suffer from the dendrite growth upon electrochemical cycling. Here the authors introduce a lithiophilic-lithiophobic gradient interfacial ZnO/CNT layer, which facilitates the formation of a stable solid electrolyte interphase, and suppresses the growth of lithium dendrite.
- Huimin Zhang
- , Xiaobin Liao
- & Hao Zhang
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Article
| Open AccessNegatively charged nanoporous membrane for a dendrite-free alkaline zinc-based flow battery with long cycle life
Dendrite accumulation is a hindrance for alkaline zinc-based flow batteries. Here the authors design a negatively charged nanoporous membrane that mitigates zinc dendrite growth by repulsion of zincate anions, leading to a zinc-based flow battery with high power density and cycling stability.
- Zhizhang Yuan
- , Xiaoqi Liu
- & Xianfeng Li
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Article
| Open AccessSeed-mediated atomic-scale reconstruction of silver manganate nanoplates for oxygen reduction towards high-energy aluminum-air flow batteries
Aluminum-air batteries are lightweight and cost effective, but performance is limited by corrosion and solid by-products. Here the authors catalyze oxygen reduction with silver manganate nanoplates and develop an aluminum-air flow battery that delivers high energy density and alleviates side reactions.
- Jaechan Ryu
- , Haeseong Jang
- & Jaephil Cho
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Article
| Open AccessTriboelectric microplasma powered by mechanical stimuli
Gas discharge plasma sources are bulky and of limited use in remote areas with no external power supply. Here the authors create triboelectric plasma by triggering TENGs with mechanical stimuli and discuss its application as a portable plasma source.
- Jia Cheng
- , Wenbo Ding
- & Zhong Lin Wang
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Article
| Open AccessCrystalline TiO2 protective layer with graded oxygen defects for efficient and stable silicon-based photocathode
While silicon-based materials can convert sunlight directly to fuel and electricity, balancing their stability and efficiency constrains usage. Here, authors protect silicon photocathodes with crystalline titanium dioxide layers with graded oxygen defects to improve both durability and efficiency.
- Jianyun Zheng
- , Yanhong Lyu
- & Shuangyin Wang
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Article
| Open AccessControlling electric potential to inhibit solid-electrolyte interphase formation on nanowire anodes for ultrafast lithium-ion batteries
Lithium-based rechargeable batteries suffer from unstable evolution of solid-electrolyte interphase on the electrode surface. Here, the authors provide an approach to inhibiting SEI formation by controlling electric potential distribution across electrolyte and electrode.
- Won Jun Chang
- , Su Han Kim
- & Won Il Park
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Article
| Open AccessTransformation from crystalline precursor to perovskite in PbCl2-derived MAPbI3
The existence of a crystalline precursor is key to perovskite film formation, but the precise chemistry of the precursor and its transformation into perovskite are poorly understood. Here, the authors identify the crystal structure and conversion chemistry of the precursor for PbCl2-derived methylammonium lead iodide perovskites.
- Kevin H. Stone
- , Aryeh Gold-Parker
- & Christopher J. Tassone
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Article
| Open AccessHigh entropy oxides for reversible energy storage
High entropy oxides provide a new strategy toward materials design by stabilizing single-phase crystal structures composed of multiple cations. Here, the authors apply this concept to the development of conversion-type electrode materials for lithium-ion storage and show the underlying mechanism.
- Abhishek Sarkar
- , Leonardo Velasco
- & Ben Breitung
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Article
| Open AccessIn-built thermo-mechanical cooperative feedback mechanism for self-propelled multimodal locomotion and electricity generation
Existing thermal technologies are mainly designed to harvest heat at high temperature, whilst low-grade heat is hardly utilized to date. Here, Wang et al. show an interlocked thermo-mechano feedback mechanism that transfers ambient heat to multimodal locomotions, potentially for soft robotics applications.
- Xiao-Qiao Wang
- , Chuan Fu Tan
- & Ghim Wei Ho
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Article
| Open AccessPhoto-generated dinuclear {Eu(II)}2 active sites for selective CO2 reduction in a photosensitizing metal-organic framework
Solar-to-chemical CO2 reduction provides a means to use light’s energy for CO2 removal and upgrading to useful products, although this photochemical conversion is challenging. Here, authors construct a Europium-containing metal-organic framework that selectively converts CO2 to formate with light.
- Zhi-Hao Yan
- , Ming-Hao Du
- & Lan-Sun Zheng
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Article
| Open AccessUnderstanding how excess lead iodide precursor improves halide perovskite solar cell performance
Excess lead iodide in the mixed halide perovskites solar cells leads to high device performance but its origin remains elusive. Here Park et al. unveil the underlying microscopic mechanism to be promoting the oriented growth of the perovskites crystals and reducing the defect concentration.
- Byung-wook Park
- , Nir Kedem
- & Sang Il Seok
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| Open AccessUnderstanding voltage decay in lithium-excess layered cathode materials through oxygen-centred structural arrangement
There is growing interest in the fundamental understanding of the voltage decay mechanism in Li-excess layered cathode materials. Here, the authors report a multilateral and macroscopic analysis that considers interaction between oxygen and atomic arrangement of Li1+xNiyCozMn1−x−y−zO2.
- Seungjun Myeong
- , Woongrae Cho
- & Jaephil Cho
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Article
| Open AccessSimulations tackle abrupt massive migrations of energetic beam ions in a tokamak plasma
Understanding the occurrence of sudden changes in plasma parameters is important for the operation of magnetically confined fusion devices. Here the authors use simulation to shed light on the formation of abrupt large-amplitude events and the associated redistribution of energetic ions in a tokamak.
- Andreas Bierwage
- , Kouji Shinohara
- & Masatoshi Yagi
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Article
| Open AccessCharge carrier-selective contacts for nanowire solar cells
Balancing the carrier selectivity and extraction by the selective contacts is of vital importance to the performance of the nanowire solar cells. Here Oener et al. employ a permanent local gate to overcome this tradeoff and substantially increase the open-circuit voltage by 335 mV.
- Sebastian Z. Oener
- , Alessandro Cavalli
- & Erik C. Garnett
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Article
| Open AccessHigh efficiency planar-type perovskite solar cells with negligible hysteresis using EDTA-complexed SnO2
The development of high efficiency planar-type perovskite solar cell has been lagging behind the mesoporous-type counterpart. Here Yang et al. modify the oxide based electron transporting layer with organic acid and obtain planar-type cells with high certified efficiency of 21.5% and decent stability.
- Dong Yang
- , Ruixia Yang
- & Shengzhong (Frank) Liu
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Article
| Open AccessUphill production of dihydrogen by enzymatic oxidation of glucose without an external energy source
Most chemical reactions proceed downhill without external energy input. Here, authors employ an electronic flyback and a boost converter to store energy and spontaneously drive an uphill reaction. The concept is exhibited by an enzymatic biofuel cell, driving water splitting in a single compartment.
- Emmanuel Suraniti
- , Pascal Merzeau
- & Alexander Kuhn
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Article
| Open AccessDipolar cations confer defect tolerance in wide-bandgap metal halide perovskites
The performance of wide-bandgap perovskite photovoltaics is limited by the undesired phase transition and high density of deep level traps. Here, Tan et al. incorporate dipolar methylammonium cation to make the material defect-tolerant and achieve a high power conversion efficiency of 20.7%.
- Hairen Tan
- , Fanglin Che
- & Edward H. Sargent
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Article
| Open Access2D perovskite stabilized phase-pure formamidinium perovskite solar cells
Utilizing mixed-cation-halide can improve stability of the formamidinium perovskite films and devices but sacrifices the photocurrent due to an increase in bandgap. Here Lee et al. introduced small amounts of 2D perovskite to obtain high efficiency and stability based on phase-pure formamidinium based perovskite.
- Jin-Wook Lee
- , Zhenghong Dai
- & Yang Yang
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Article
| Open AccessNew insights into the design of conjugated polymers for intramolecular singlet fission
Further mechanistic insight of intramolecular singlet fission (iSF) in conjugated polymers can enable novel material design for solar cells. Here, the authors use transient spectroscopy to show iSF in an isoindigo-based conjugated polymer and propose a design rule based on morphology-dependent iSF.
- Jiahua Hu
- , Ke Xu
- & Matthew Y. Sfeir
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Article
| Open AccessOperando and three-dimensional visualization of anion depletion and lithium growth by stimulated Raman scattering microscopy
The relationship between Li-ion concentration and Li deposition remains an issue to be addressed. Here the authors show that stimulated Raman scattering microscopy offers insight into the concentration evolution and its impact on the dendrite growth, which is not possible by existing techniques.
- Qian Cheng
- , Lu Wei
- & Yuan Yang
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Article
| Open AccessMechanical mismatch-driven rippling in carbon-coated silicon sheets for stress-resilient battery anodes
Maintaining the structural stability during electrochemical cycling remains a big challenge facing the silicon anode material. Here, the authors have developed 2D silicon nanosheets coated with carbon layers, which show a unique mechanism in releasing internal stress by forming ripple structures.
- Jaegeon Ryu
- , Tianwu Chen
- & Soojin Park
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Article
| Open AccessSuppression of atom motion and metal deposition in mixed ionic electronic conductors
Mixed ionic–electronic conductors are limited by material decomposition. Here the authors reveal the mechanism for atom migration and deposition in Cu2–δ(S,Se) materials based on a critical chemical potential difference and propose electronically conducting, ion-blocking interfaces to enhance stability.
- Pengfei Qiu
- , Matthias T. Agne
- & G. Jeffrey Snyder
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Article
| Open AccessManipulation of facet orientation in hybrid perovskite polycrystalline films by cation cascade
Crystal facet orientations of the polycrystalline hybrid lead halide perovskite thin films play a crucial role in determining the device performance. Here Zheng et al. demonstrate effective control of the crystal stacking mode by cation cascade doping, which promotes the charge transport in the photovoltaic device.
- Guanhaojie Zheng
- , Cheng Zhu
- & Huanping Zhou
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Article
| Open AccessNanoscale imaging of charge carrier transport in water splitting photoanodes
The performance of energy materials is affected by structural defects, as well as physicochemical heterogeneity over different length scales. Here the authors map nanoscale correlations between morphological and functional heterogeneity, quantifying the trap states limiting electronic transport in bismuth vanadate thin films.
- Johanna Eichhorn
- , Christoph Kastl
- & Francesca M. Toma
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Article
| Open AccessCatalyst-TiO(OH)2 could drastically reduce the energy consumption of CO2 capture
The notoriously slow kinetics in CO2 desorption hinders the development of efficient CO2 capture technologies. Here, the authors discover that nanostructured TiO(OH)2 as a catalyst is capable of dramatically increasing the rates of CO2 desorption from spent monoethanolamine.
- Qinghua Lai
- , Sam Toan
- & Maohong Fan
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Article
| Open AccessEfficient solar hydrogen generation in microgravity environment
While renewable energy production is a terrestrial concern, far less attention is devoted to solar-to-fuel conversion for long-term space missions. Here, the authors explore photoelectrochemical hydrogen generation in microgravity and overcome microgravity’s limitations by electrode nanostructuring.
- Katharina Brinkert
- , Matthias H. Richter
- & Hans-Joachim Lewerenz
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Article
| Open AccessBurden on hydropower units for short-term balancing of renewable power systems
Quantifying burden on hydropower units for balancing variable renewable energy sources has been uncertain and difficult. Herein Yang et al. propose a framework and characterize the burden, performance and compensation of hydropower regulation of renewable power systems.
- Weijia Yang
- , Per Norrlund
- & Urban Lundin
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| Open AccessHigh energy flexible supercapacitors formed via bottom-up infilling of gel electrolytes into thick porous electrodes
The development of high performance flexible solid supercapacitors calls for an effective approach to infill gel electrolytes into porous electrodes. Here the authors report a bottom-up method to address this technical challenge, which leads to enhanced areal capacitance and durability.
- Xiangming Li
- , Jinyou Shao
- & Paul V. Braun
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| Open AccessOperando X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of solid electrolyte interphase formation and evolution in Li2S-P2S5 solid-state electrolytes
Solid-state electrolytes may improve the performance of batteries; however, many are unstable towards metallic lithium, and little is known about the chemical evolution of the interfaces that form during cycling. Here, the authors use an operando method to map the formation and evolution of a solid-electrolyte interphase during cycling.
- Kevin N. Wood
- , K. Xerxes Steirer
- & Glenn Teeter
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Article
| Open AccessCoupling of electrochemically triggered thermal and mechanical effects to aggravate failure in a layered cathode
Electrochemical processes induce thermo-mechanical effects that mediate battery performance. Here the authors directly visualize cracking dynamics in a thermally perturbed, delithiated LiNi0.6Mn0.2Co0.2O2 cathode to demonstrate coupling between thermal, mechanical and electrochemical factors.
- Pengfei Yan
- , Jianming Zheng
- & Chongmin Wang
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Article
| Open AccessDouble thermoelectric power factor of a 2D electron system
The accelerated growth of thermoelectric technology that efficiently converts waste heat to electricity necessitates the development of high-performance materials. Here, the authors experimentally demonstrate a 2D electron system with enhanced two-dimensionality and thermoelectric power factor.
- Yuqiao Zhang
- , Bin Feng
- & Hiromichi Ohta
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Article
| Open AccessOptimization of the structural characteristics of CaO and its effective stabilization yield high-capacity CO2 sorbents
The economic operation of a carbon dioxide capture technique of calcium looping necessitates highly effective CaO-based CO2 sorbents. Here, the authors report a facile one-pot synthesis approach to yield highly effective, MgO-stabilized, CaO-based CO2 sorbents featuring highly porous multishelled morphologies.
- Muhammad Awais Naeem
- , Andac Armutlulu
- & Christoph R. Müller
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Article
| Open AccessCoherent exciton-vibrational dynamics and energy transfer in conjugated organics
Interference patterns in photoexcited dynamics of many materials have historically been attributed to electronic and vibrational coherences. Here, the authors demonstrate a simple model based on wavefunction symmetry suggesting these coherences originate from non-adiabatic transitions for optically active molecules.
- Tammie R. Nelson
- , Dianelys Ondarse-Alvarez
- & Sergei Tretiak
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Article
| Open AccessEstimating geological CO2 storage security to deliver on climate mitigation
Carbon capture and storage can help reduce CO2 emissions but the confidence in geologic CO2 storage security is uncertain. Here the authors present a numerical programme to estimate leakage from wells and find that under appropriate regulation 98% of injected CO2 will be retained over 10,000 years.
- Juan Alcalde
- , Stephanie Flude
- & R. Stuart Haszeldine
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Article
| Open AccessNanoscale membranes that chemically isolate and electronically wire up the abiotic/biotic interface
Bioelectrochemical cells have huge potential, yet incompatibilities between the microbe and abiotic catalysts can affect efficiency. Here, the authors report the development of thin silica membranes with bridging molecular wires that chemically separate yet electrically connect the two components.
- Jose A. Cornejo
- , Hua Sheng
- & Heinz Frei
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Article
| Open AccessSolvent-controlled growth of inorganic perovskite films in dry environment for efficient and stable solar cells
Cesium lead iodide inorganic perovskite solar cells have great potential but the phase instability hinders their development. Here Wang et al. show a controlled drying process to make phase stable and highly efficient solar cells with power conversion efficiency of 15.7%.
- Pengyang Wang
- , Xingwang Zhang
- & Jingbi You
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Article
| Open AccessVapor transport deposition of antimony selenide thin film solar cells with 7.6% efficiency
Antimony selenide possess several advantages for solar cell applications but state-of-the-art vapor transport deposition methods suffer from poor film quality. Here Wen et al. develop a fast and cheap method to reduce the defect density by 10 times and achieve a certified power conversion efficiency of 7.6%.
- Xixing Wen
- , Chao Chen
- & Jiang Tang
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Article
| Open AccessLive cyanobacteria produce photocurrent and hydrogen using both the respiratory and photosynthetic systems
Biologically ### produced electrical currents and hydrogen are new energy sources. Here, the authors find that low presser microfluidizer treatment produced cyanobacterium that can utilize electrons from respiratory and photosynthesis to promote current and hydrogen generation, without the addition of exogenous electron mediators.
- Gadiel Saper
- , Dan Kallmann
- & Noam Adir
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Article
| Open AccessOperando monitoring the lithium spatial distribution of lithium metal anodes
Rechargeable lithium metal batteries could offer a major leap in energy capacity but suffer from the electrolyte reactivity and dendrite growth. Here the authors apply neutron depth profiling to provide quantitative insight into the evolution of the Li-metal morphology during plating and stripping.
- Shasha Lv
- , Tomas Verhallen
- & Marnix Wagemaker
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Article
| Open AccessRobust nonfullerene solar cells approaching unity external quantum efficiency enabled by suppression of geminate recombination
The nonfullerene-based small molecules start to attract more attention for solar cell research than the fullerene acceptors due to their wider tunability. Here Baran et al. demonstrate nonfullerene-based solar cells with high power conversion efficiency of 12% and quantum efficiencies approaching 100%.
- Derya Baran
- , Nicola Gasparini
- & Iain McCulloch
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Article
| Open AccessProbing the pathways of free charge generation in organic bulk heterojunction solar cells
Contradictory models are being debated on the dominant pathways of charge generation in organic solar cells. Here Kurpiers et al. determine the activation energy for this fundamental process and reveal that the main channel is via thermalized charge transfer states instead of hot exciton dissociation.
- Jona Kurpiers
- , Thomas Ferron
- & Dieter Neher
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Article
| Open AccessProbing femtosecond lattice displacement upon photo-carrier generation in lead halide perovskite
The electron–phonon coupling is the key to understand optoelectronic properties in lead halide perovskites but it is difficult to probe. Here Batignani et al. observe two new phonon modes with impulsive vibrational spectroscopy providing the evidence of the polaronic nature of the photo-excitation.
- Giovanni Batignani
- , Giuseppe Fumero
- & Tullio Scopigno