Sub-angstrom noninvasive imaging of atomic arrangement in 2D hybrid perovskites

0557449 - FZÚ 2023 RIV US eng J - Journal Article
Telychko, M. - Edalatmanesh, Shayan - Leng, K. - Abdelwahab, I. - Guo, N. - Zhang, C. - Mendieta Moreno, Jesús Ignacio - Nachtigall, Matyáš - Li, J. - Loh, K.P. - Jelínek, Pavel - Lu, J.
Sub-angstrom noninvasive imaging of atomic arrangement in 2D hybrid perovskites.
Science Advances. Roč. 8, č. 17 (2022), č. článku eabj0395. ISSN 2375-2548. E-ISSN 2375-2548
R&D Projects: GA ČR(CZ) GX20-13692X
Grant - others:AV ČR(CZ) AP1601
Program: Akademická prémie - Praemium Academiae
Research Infrastructure: CzechNanoLab - 90110
Institutional support: RVO:68378271
Keywords : nc-AFM * DFT * perovskites * atomic structure
OECD category: Condensed matter physics (including formerly solid state physics, supercond.)
Impact factor: 13.6, year: 2022
Method of publishing: Open access

Noninvasive imaging of the atomic arrangement in two-dimensional (2D) Ruddlesden-Popper hybrid perovskites (RPPs) is challenging because of the insulating nature and softness of the organic layers. Here, we demonstrate a sub-angstrom resolution imaging of both soft organic layers and inorganic framework in a prototypical 2D lead-halide RPP crystal via combined tip-functionalized scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and noncontact atomic force microscopy (ncAFM) corroborated by theoretical simulations. STM measurements unveil the atomic reconstruction of the inorganic lead-halide lattice and overall twin-domain composition of the RPP crystal, while ncAFM measurements with a CO-tip enable nonperturbative visualization of the cooperative reordering of surface organic cations driven by their hydrogen bonding interactions with the inorganic lattice. Moreover, such a joint technique also allows for the atomic-scale imaging of the electrostatic potential variation across the twin-domain walls, revealing alternating quasi-1D electron and hole channels at neighboring twin boundaries, which may influence in-plane exciton transport and dissociation.
Permanent Link: https://hdl.handle.net/11104/0333921