Seminar Date: Tuesday, May 21, 2024
Time: 11:00 am
Location: 67-3111 & Zoom
Talk Title: Building science of manufacturing for halide perovskites, from microcrystal libraries to thin films
Zoom link
Abstract:
Two-dimensional halide perovskites (HPs) combine the richness of physical
functionalities of inorganic materials and complexity and stimulus responsiveness of organic molecules (spacer cations) in a single bulk dynamic material. The unique aspect of these materials is the thermodynamic (meta) stability, allowing for self-organized formation of complex large-period structures. Combined with the ease of fabrication, these materials not only have extensively demonstrated state-of-the-art high-performance optoelectronics, but also offer the pathway toward versatile applications, including sensing, and light emitting applications as well as their cost-effective mass production. However, discovery and optimization of this material require joint optimization of the composition of the inorganic components and selection of the molecular moieties, to harness the phase formation and self-assembly processes on the material level, and extend it to micro- and macroscale functional devices.
In this talk, I will discuss the potential of high throughput automated experiments to expedite the discovery of 2D and quasi 2D HP, optimize processing pathways, and enhance understanding of formation kinetics. This approach requires maximal acceleration of the synthesis-characterization-prediction cycle, enabled by the incorporation of rapid characterization methods in the discovery loop. In many cases, the intrinsic latencies of theoretical modeling for sufficiently complex systems favor the experiment-first discovery approach. I will showcase how high throughput automated synthesis provides a comprehensive guide for designing optimal precursor stoichiometry to achieve functional quasi-2D perovskite phases in films capable of realizing high-performance optoelectronics. With excellent agreement between theoretical and experimental observations, we show that with judicious selection of spacer cations, 2D HP can manifest self-assembly of twisted Moire structure, which has not been observed from conventional 2D HP systems with linear spacers. These studies exemplify how a high-throughput automated experimental workflow effectively expedites discoveries and processing optimizations in complex materials systems with multiple functionalities, facilitating their realization in scalable optoelectronic manufacturing processes.
Bio:
Dr. Mahshid Ahmadi received her PhD in Materials Science and Engineering from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore in 2013 with focus on development of low-cost materials for energy applications. She graduated with B. Sci. (2004) and M. Sci. (2007) in Materials Science and Industrial Metallurgy from Shiraz University, Iran. Prior to joining UTK, she worked as a research and technology consultant in a start-up solar cell company in Dallas, TX.
