Reverse bias breakdown and photocurrent gain in CH3NH3PbBr3 films

Perovskite films are promising candidates for fast, sensitive, and large area photodetectors. A gain in perovskite based detectors has been observed in several architectures, but a model describing the underlying mechanism is still missing or at least incomplete. Here, we present measurements of CH3NH3PbBr3 films under reverse bias exhibiting breakdown at 4-5V and small photocurrent gain less than or similar to 2, which based on a phenomenological model, we explain tentatively by tunnel-assisted injection from the TiO2 electron transport layer and carrier multiplication, mediated by the electric field due to mobile ions. Published under an exclusive license by AIP Publishing.

Automated summary

Perovskite films are potential materials for photodetectors, but the mechanism behind their gain is still not fully understood. This study presents measurements of CH3NH3PbBr3 films and proposes a phenomenological model to explain the observed phenomena.