Shijing Sun

Solid-state principles applied to organic–inorganic perovskites: new tricks for an old dog

Hybrid organic–inorganic materials that adopt perovskite-like architectures show intriguing order–disorder phase transitions and exciting electronic properties. We extend the classical concept of ionic tolerance factors to this important class of materials and predict the existence of several hitherto undiscovered hybrid perovskite phases.

The synthesis, structure and electronic properties of a lead-free hybrid inorganic–organic double perovskite (MA)2KBiCl6 (MA = methylammonium)

In a search for lead-free materials that could be used as alternatives to the hybrid perovskites, (MA)PbX3, in photovoltaic applications, we have discovered a hybrid double perovskite, (MA)2KBiCl6, which shows strong similarities to the lead analogues. Spectroscopic measurements and nanoindentation studies are combined with density functional calculations to reveal the properties of this interesting system.

Porous Organic Cage Thin Films and Molecular-Sieving Membranes

Porous organic cage molecules are fabricated into thin films and molecular-sieving membranes. Cage molecules are solution cast on various substrates to form amorphous thin films, with the structures tuned by tailoring the cage chemistry and processing conditions. For the first time, uniform and pinhole-free microporous cage thin films are formed and demonstrated as molecular-sieving membranes for selective gas separation.

Mechanical properties of organic–inorganic halide perovskites, CH3NH3PbX3 (X = I, Br and Cl), by nanoindentation

We report an experimental study of the mechanical properties of the organic–inorganic halide perovskites, CH3NH3PbX3 (X = I, Br and Cl). Nanoidentation on single crystals was used to obtain Youngs moduli (E) and hardnesses (H) of this class of hybrid materials, which have attracted considerable attention for photovoltaic applications. The measured Youngs moduli of this family lie in the range 10–20 GPa and a trend of ECl > EBr > EI is observed. The physical properties are consistent with the underlying crystal structure. In particular, the results are in reasonable agreement with recent calculations using density functional theory and align with expectations based upon bond energy, packing, and hydrogen-bonding considerations. The anisotropy in these systems is quite small, with E100 > E110 for the cubic bromide and chloride cases and E112 ≈ E100 for the tetragonal iodide perovskites. Interestingly, CH3NH3PbI3 is harder than the Br- and Cl-based perovskites.

Exploring the properties of lead-free hybrid double perovskites using a combined computational-experimental approach

Density functional theory screening of the hybrid double perovskites (MA)2BIBiX6 (BI = K, Cu, Ag, Tl; X = Cl, Br, I) shows that systems with band gaps similar to those of the MAPbX3 lead compounds can be expected for BI = Cu, Ag, Tl. Motivated by these findings, (MA)2TlBiBr6, isoelectronic with MAPbBr3, was synthesised and found to have a band gap of ∼2.0 eV.

Synthesis, crystal structure, and properties of a perovskite-related bismuth phase, (NH4)3Bi2I9

Organic-inorganic halide perovskites, especially methylammonium lead halide, have recently led to remarkable advances in photovoltaic devices. However, due to environmental and stability concerns around the use of lead, research into lead-free perovskite structures has been attracting increasing attention. In this study, a layered perovskite-like architecture, (NH4)3Bi2I9, is prepared from solution and the structure solved by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The band gap, which is estimated to be 2.04 eV using UV-visible spectroscopy, is lower than that of CH3NH3PbBr3. The energy-minimized structure obtained from first principles calculations is in excellent agreement with the X-ray results and establishes the locations of the hydrogen atoms. The calculations also point to a significant lone pair effect on the bismuth ion. Single crystal and powder conductivity measurements are performed to examine the potential application of (NH4)3Bi2I9 as an alternative to the lead containing perovskites.

Role of entropic effects in controlling the polymorphism in formate ABX3 metal–organic frameworks

Polymorphism in formate-based dense metal-organic frameworks with the general formula ABX3 is predicted by quantum chemical calculations and confirmed experimentally. In particular [NH3NH2]Zn(HCOO)3 crystallizes in two different polymorphs, a perovskite-like framework and a chiral structure with hexagonal channels. A detailed thermodynamic analysis reveals that both structures are very close in free energy and that entropy driven effects are responsible for stabilizing the channel structure.

Oriented 2D Porous Organic Cage Crystals

Abstract The formation of two‐dimensional (2D) oriented porous organic cage crystals (consisting of imine‐based tetrahedral molecules) on various substrates (such as silicon wafers and glass) by solution‐processing is reported. Insight into the crystallinity, preferred orientation, and cage crystal growth was obtained by experimental and computational techniques. For the first time, structural defects in porous molecular materials were observed directly and the defect concentration could be correlated with crystal growth rate. These oriented crystals suggest potential for future applications, such as solution‐processable molecular crystalline 2D membranes for molecular separations.

Mechanical Properties of a Calcium Dietary Supplement, Calcium Fumarate Trihydrate

The mechanical properties of calcium fumarate trihydrate, a 1D coordination polymer considered for use as a calcium source for food and beverage enrichment, have been determined via nanoindentation and high-pressure X-ray diffraction with single crystals. The nanoindentation studies reveal that the elastic modulus (16.7-33.4 GPa, depending on crystallographic orientation), hardness (1.05-1.36 GPa), yield stress (0.70-0.90 GPa), and creep behavior (0.8-5.8 nm/s) can be rationalized in view of the anisotropic crystal structure; factors include the directionality of the inorganic Ca-O-Ca chain and hydrogen bonding, as well as the orientation of the fumarate ligands. High-pressure single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies show a bulk modulus of ∼ 20 GPa, which is indicative of elastic recovery intermediate between small molecule drug crystals and inorganic pharmaceutical ingredients. The combined use of nanoindentation and high-pressure X-ray diffraction techniques provides a complementary experimental approach for probing the critical mechanical properties related to tableting of these dietary supplements.

Synthesis and Characterization of the Rare-Earth Hybrid Double Perovskites: (CH3NH3)2KGdCl6 and (CH3NH3)2KYCl6

Two hybrid rare-earth double perovskites, (CH3NH3)2KGdCl6 and (CH3NH3)2KYCl6, have been synthesized by a solution evaporation method and their structures determined by variable temperature single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The diffraction results show that at room temperature both perovskites adopt a rhombohedral structure with R3̅m symmetry, as found previously for (MA)2KBiCl6, and lattice parameters of a = 7.7704(5) Å and c = 20.945(2) Å for (MA)2KGdCl6 and a = 7.6212(12) Å and c = 20.742(4) Å for (MA)2KYCl6. Both phases exhibit a rhombohedral-to-cubic phase transition on heating to ∼435 K for (MA)2KYCl6 and ∼375 K for (MA)2KGdCl6. Density functional calculations on the rhombohedral phase indicate that both materials have large direct band gaps, are mechanically stable, and, in the case of (MA)2KGdCl6, could exhibit magnetic ordering at low temperatures.