Electrospun Tri-Cation Perovskite Nanofibers for Infrared Photodetection

Tri-cation (Cs+/CH3NH3+/CH(NH2)(2)(+)) and dual-anion (Br-/I-) perovskites are promising light absorbers for inexpensive infrared (IR) photodetectors but degrade under prolonged IR exposure. Here, stable IR photodetectors based on electrospun tri-cation perovskite fibers infiltrated with hole-transporting pi-conjugated small molecule 2,2 ',7,7 '-tetrakis[N,N-di(4-methoxyphenyl)amino]-9,9-spirobifluorene (Spiro-OMeTAD) are demonstrated. These hybrid perovskite photodetectors operate at a low bias of 5 V and exhibit ultra-high gains with external quantum efficiencies (EQEs) as high as 3009%, decreasing slightly to approximate to 2770% after 3 months in air. These EQE values are almost ten times larger than those measured for photodetectors comprising bilayer perovskite/Spiro-OMeTAD films. A high density of charge traps on electrospun fiber surfaces gives rise to a photomultiplication effect in which photogenerated holes can travel through the active layer multiple times before recombining with trapped electrons. Time-resolved photoluminescence and conductive atomic force microscopy mapping reveal the improved performance of electrospun fibers to originate from the significantly enhanced interfacial surface area between the perovskite and Spiro-OMeTAD compared to bilayers. As a solution-based, scalable and continuous method of depositing perovskite layers, electrospinning thus presents a promising strategy for the inexpensive fabrication of high-performance IR photodetectors for applications ranging from information technology to imaging.

Automated summary

Stable infrared photodetectors based on electrospun tri-cation perovskite fibers infiltrated with hole-transporting small molecule Spiro-OMeTAD are demonstrated. These photodetectors exhibit ultra-high gains with external quantum efficiencies up to 3009% and remain stable after prolonged exposure to air. The improved performance of electrospun fibers is attributed to the enhanced interfacial surface area between the perovskite and Spiro-OMeTAD, which allows for multiple travels of photogenerated holes before recombination.