Cl, Br, and I are elements in the halogen family, and are often used as dopants in semiconductors. When employed as dopants, these halogens can significantly modify the optoelectronic properties of materials. From the perspective of halogen doping, we have successfully achieved the stabilization of crystal structures in CH3NH3PbX3, CH3NH3PbI3-xClx, CH3NH3PbI3-xBrx, and CH3NH3PbBr3-xClx, which are organic-inorganic hybrid perovskites. Utilizing first-principles density functional theory calculations with the CASTEP module, we investigated the optoelectronic properties of these structures by simulations. According to the calculations, a smaller difference in electronegativity between different halogens in doped structures can result in smoother energy bands, especially in CH3NH3PbI3-xBrx and CH3NH3PbBr3-xClx. The PDOS of the Cl-3p orbitals undergoes a shift along the energy axis as a result of variances in electronegativity levels. The optoelectronic performance, carrier mobility, and structural stability of the CH3NH3PbBr3-xClx system are superior to other systems like CH3NH3PbX3. Among many materials considered, CH3NH3PbBr2Cl exhibits higher carrier mobility and a relatively narrower bandgap, making it a more suitable material for the absorption layer in solar cells. This study provides valuable insights into the methodology employed for the selection of specific types, quantities, and positions of halogens for further research on halogen doping.
Keywords: first-principles calculations; halide perovskites; organic–inorganic hybrid perovskites; solar cells.