UC Berkeley

Cesium lead iodide (CsPbI₃) is a promising semiconductor with a suitable band gap for optoelectronic devices. CsPbI₃ has a metastable perovskite phase that undergoes a phase transition into an unfavorable nonperovskite phase in an ambient environment. This phase transition changes the optoelectronic properties of CsPbI₃ and hinders its potential for device applications. Therefore, it is of central importance to understand the kinetics of such instability and develop strategies to control and stabilize the perovskite phase. Here, we use ultralong CsPbI₃ nanowires as a model platform to investigate the phase transition kinetics. Our results depict the role of environmental stressors (moisture and temperature) in controlling the phase transition dynamics of CsPbI₃, which can serve as guiding principles for future phase transition studies and the design of related photovoltaics. Furthermore, we demonstrate the controllability of phase propagation on individual nanowires by varying the moisture level and temperature.