Mixed-Dimensional Naphthylmethylammoinium-Methylammonium Lead Iodide Perovskites with Improved Thermal Stability

Metal halide perovskite solar cells, despite achieving high power conversion efficiency (PCE), need to demonstrate high stability prior to be considered for industrialization. Prolonged exposure to heat, light, and moisture is known to deteriorate the perovskite material owing to the breakdown of the crystal structure into its non-photoactive components. In this study, we show that by combining the organic ligand 1-naphthylmethylammoinium iodide (NMAI) with methylammonium (MA) to form a mixed dimensional (NMA)₂(MA)_n−1Pb_nI_3n+1 perovskite the optical, crystallographic and morphological properties of the newly formed mixed dimensional perovskite films under thermal ageing can be retained. Indeed, under thermal ageing at 85 °C, the best performing (NMA)₂(MA)_n−1Pb_nI_3n+1 perovskites films show a stable morphology, a low PbI₂ formation rate and a significantly reduced variation of both MA-specific vibrational modes and fluorescence lifetimes as compared to the pristine MAPbI₃ films. These results highlight the role of the bulky NMA⁺ organic cation in mixed dimensional perovskites to both inhibit the MA⁺ diffusion and reduce the material defects, which act as non-radiative recombination centres. As a result, the thermal stability of metal halide perovskites has been substantially improved.