Advances in physicochemical characterization of lead-free hybrid perovskite [NH3(CH2)3NH3]CuBr4 crystals

Sci Rep. 2022 May 24;12(1):8769. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-12832-y.

Abstract

To support the development of eco-friendly hybrid perovskite solar cells, structural, thermal, and physical properties of the lead-free hybrid perovskite [NH3(CH2)3NH3]CuBr4 were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The crystal structure confirmed by XRD was monoclinic, and thermodynamic stability was observed at approximately 500 K without any phase transition. The large changes in the 1H chemical shifts of NH3 and those in C2 close to N are affected by N-H∙∙∙Br hydrogen bonds because the structural geometry of CuBr4 changed significantly. The 1H and 13C spin-lattice relaxation times (T) showed very similar molecular motions according to the Bloembergen-Purcell-Pound theory at low temperatures; however, the 1H T values representing energy transfer were about 10 times lesser than those of 13C T. Finally, the 1H and 13C T values of [NH3(CH2)3NH3]MeBr4 (Me = Cu, Zn, and Cd) were compared with those reported previously. 1H T was affected by the paramagnetic ion of the anion, while 13C T was affected by the MeBr4 structure of the anion; 13C T values in Me = Cu and Cd with the octahedral MeBr6 structure had longer values than those in Me = Zn with the tetrahedral MeBr4 structure. We believe that these detailed insights on the physical properties will play a crucial role in the development of eco-friendly hybrid perovskite solar cells.