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The intriguing functionalities of emerging quasi-two-dimensional (2D) metal halide perovskites (MHPs) have led to further exploration of this material class for sustainable and scalable optoelectronic applications. However, the chemical complexities in precursors – primarily determined by the 2D:3D compositional ratio – result in uncontrolled phase heterogeneities in these materials, which compromises the optoelectronic performances. Yet, this phenomenon remains poorly understood due to the massive quasi-2D compositional space. To systematically explore the fundamental principles, herein, a high-throughput automated synthesis-characterization workflow is designed and implemented to formamidinium (FA)-based quasi-2D MHP system. It is revealed that the stable 3D-like phases, where the α-FAPbI3 surface is passivated by 2D spacer molecules, exclusively emerge at the compositional range (35-55% of FAPbI3), deviating from the stoichiometric considerations. A quantitative crystallographic study via high-throughput grazing-incidence wide-angle X-ray scattering (GIWAXS) experiments integrated with automated peak analysis function quickly reveals that the 3D-like phases are vertically aligned, facilitating vertical charge conduction that could be beneficial for optoelectronic applications. Together, this study uncovers the optimal 2D:3D compositional range for complex quasi-2D MHP systems, realizing desired optoelectronic performances and stability. The automated experimental workflow significantly accelerates materials discoveries and processing optimizations while providing fundamental insights into complex materials systems.

Preferred crystallographic orientation in polycrystalline films is desirable for efficient charge carrier transport in metal halide perovskites and semiconductors. However, the mechanisms that determine the preferred orientation of halide perovskites are still not well understood. In this work, we investigate crystallographic orientation in lead bromide perovskites. We show that the solvent of the precursor solution and organic A-site cation strongly affect the preferred orientation of the deposited perovskite thin films. Specifically, we show that the solvent, dimethylsulfoxide, influences the early stages of crystallization and induces preferred orientation in the deposited films by preventing colloidal particle interactions. Additionally, the methylammonium A-site cation induces a higher degree of preferred orientation than the formamidinium counterpart. We use density functional theory to show that the lower surface energy of the (100) plane facets in methylammonium-based perovskites, compared to the (110) planes, is the reason for the higher degree of preferred orientation. In contrast, the surface energy of the (100) and (110) facets is similar for formamidinium-based perovskites, leading to lower degree of preferred orientation. Furthermore, we show that different A-site cations do not significantly affect ion diffusion in bromine-based perovskite solar cells but impact ion density and accumulation, leading to increased hysteresis. Our work highlights the interplay between the solvent and organic A-site cation which determine crystallographic orientation and plays a critical role in the electronic properties and ionic migration of solar cells.

The impact of the bulky-cation-modified interfaces on halide perovskite solar cell stability is underexplored. In this work, the thermal instability of the bulky-cation interface layers used in the state-of-the-art solar cells is demonstrated. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and synchrotron-based grazing-incidence X-ray scattering measurements reveal significant changes in the chemical composition and structure at the surface of these films that occur under thermal stress. The changes impact charge-carrier dynamics and device operation, as shown in transient photoluminescence, excitation correlation spectroscopy, and solar cells. The type of cation used for surface treatment affects the extent of these changes, where long carbon chains provide more stable interfaces. These results highlight that prolonged annealing of the treated interfaces is critical to enable reliable reporting of performances and to drive the selection of different bulky cations.