Nanoscale mapping of chemical composition in organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite films.

Lead-based organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite (OIHP) solar cells can attain efficiencies over 20%. However, the impact of ion mobility and/or organic depletion, structural changes, and segregation under operating conditions urge for decisive and more accurate investigations. Hence, the development of analytical tools for accessing the grain-to-grain OIHP chemistry is of great relevance. Here, we used synchrotron infrared nanospectroscopy (nano-FTIR) to map individual nanograins in OIHP films. Our results reveal a spatial heterogeneity of the vibrational activity associated to the nanoscale chemical diversity of isolated grains. It was possible to map the chemistry of individual grains in CsFAMA [Cs0.05FA0.79MA0.16Pb(I0.83Br0.17)3] and FAMA [FA0.83MA0.17Pb(I0.83Br0.17)3] films, with information on their local composition. Nanograins with stronger nano-FTIR activity in CsFAMA and FAMA films can be assigned to PbI2 and hexagonal polytype phases, respectively. The analysis herein can be extended to any OIHP films where organic cation depletion/accumulation can be used as a chemical label to study composition.

Effect of ligand radicals on vibrational IR, Raman and vibronic spectra of europium beta-diketonates.

Vibrational IR, Raman spectra and vibronic sidebands of Eu(3+) electronic transitions of europium tris-beta-diketonates Eu(beta)(3).Ph (beta-dipyvaloylmethane (DPM), acetylacetone (AA), benzoylacetone (BA), thenoyltrifluoroacetone (TTFA) and other beta-diketones; Ph-methyl-, phenyl-, and nitro-derivatives of 1,10-phenanthroline (Phen)) as well as Eu(beta)(3).Bpy and Eu(beta)(3).D-Bpy (Bpy- and D-Bpy-H- and D-2,2'-bipyridine) were studied. Effect of ligand radical properties on spectra and manifestation of the reciprocal influence of non-equivalent ligands in spectra are discussed. Dependence of the spectra on electronic density distribution in both ligands as well as on the strength of M-O and M-N bonds at the variation of radicals of one of the ligands, beta or Ph, was examined. Shape of vibronic sidebands was analysed. Behaviour of bands in the middle and far regions of IR spectra of the series Eu(beta)(3).Phen and Eu(TTFA)(3).Ph was investigated. Increase of the polarising influence of Eu(3+) ions on Phen and Bpy molecules and strengthening the Eu-N bonds in TTFA compounds in comparison with DPM compounds were disclosed from the Raman spectra of Eu(beta)(3).Phen and Eu(beta)(3).Bpy, that is in accordance with properties of beta-diketone radicals. Conclusion about weaker Eu-N bonds in europium beta-diketonates with heterocyclic diimines in comparison with corresponding nitrates was derived from the spectra. Spectral data concerning the relative strength of Eu-ligand bonds are in agreement with available X-ray data.

The nature of improper, blue-shifting hydrogen bonding verified experimentally.

In the infrared spectra of solutions in liquid argon of dimethyl ether ((CH(3))(2)O) and fluoroform (HCF(3)), bands due to a 1:1 complex between these monomers have been observed. The C-H stretch of the HCF(3) moiety in the complex appears 17.7 cm(-1) above that in the monomer, and its intensity decreases by a factor of 11(2). These characteristics situate the interaction between the monomers in the realm of improper, blue-shifting hydrogen bonding. The complexation shifts the C-F stretches downward by some 9 cm(-1), while the C-H stretches in (CH(3))(2)O are shifted upward by 9-15 cm(-1), and the C-O stretches are shifted downward by 5 cm(-1). These shifts are in very good agreement with those calculated by means of correlated ab initio methods, and this validates a two-step mechanism for improper, blue-shifting hydrogen bonding. In the first step, the electron density is transferred from the oxygen lone electron pairs of the proton acceptor ((CH(3))(2)O) to fluorine lone electron pairs of the proton donor (CHF(3)) which yields elongation of all CF bonds. Elongation of CF bonds is followed (in the second step) by structural reorganization of the CHF(3) moiety, which leads to the contraction of the CH bond. It is thus clearly demonstrated that not only the spectral manifestation of H-bonding and improper H-bonding but also their nature differ.