Emergence of Glassy perovskite semiconductors

Crystalline metal halide perovskites have garnered substantial attention given their outstanding semiconducting character, unprecedented tunability and wide-range application. This focus can be extended beyond long-range order — that is, to glassy and melt states.
Read here: Nat Rev Mater 10, 211–227 (2025) 

The accidental discovery of glassy perovskite semiconductors

Hybrid organic–inorganic metal halide perovskites are introduced into the field of semiconducting glasses through deliberate synthetic design of the hybrid structure, resulting in facile and reversible glass–crystalline switching under moderate thermal cycling. Such glasses can find prospective application in, for example, memory, computing, nonlinear optics, communication, catalysis, sensing, and batteries.
Read here: Adv. Mater. 2021, 33(3), 2005868 

Glass crystallization kinetics in exemplary SNPB perovskite

Glass-forming hybrid perovskites enable reversible glass-crystal switching, vital for phase-change applications. We present the first framework modeling glass crystallization kinetics in MHPs. SNPB studies reveal heterogeneous surface-mediated nucleation, 2D laminar growth, ~350 kJ/mol activation energy, and Avrami parameter ~2, offering key insights for future materials design and application development.
Read here: ACS Materials Lett. 2022, 4 (9), 1840-1847 

Glass formation in perovskites using ultrafast calorimetry

Ultrafast calorimetry is employed for the first time to demonstrate in-situ glass formation in an iodide-based perovskite, which was previously considered a non-glass former., broadening the range of metal halide perovskite glasses. The study examines stabilization mechanisms, liquid dynamics, transformation kinetics, and identifies rapid crystal growth rates, highlighting potential for applications in metamaterials, nonvolatile memory, and optical and neuromorphic computing due to reversible switching.  
Read here: J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2023, 145, 33, 18623–18633

Controlling glass forming kinetics using isomers in perovskites

This study investigates structural effects on glass formation in metal halide perovskites, comparing isomeric compounds S(1-1)NPB and S(1-2)NPB. Small structural variations significantly alter melting points, glass-forming kinetics, and required cooling rates. Calorimetry and crystallography analyses reveal that differences in organic–inorganic hydrogen bonding and entropy drive these distinct glass-forming behaviors.  
Read here: Chem. Sci., 2024, 15, 6432-6444 

Local structure in hybrid perovskite glass

In this thrust, we explore how molecular packing and local atomic coordination differ in crystalline, melt, and glassy states of hybrid metal halide perovskites. By correlating these variations to optical, thermal, electrical, and mechanical properties, we aim to unlock insights using advanced techniques like PDF, ss-NMR, PL, Raman, and FTIR.
Read here: J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2024, 146, 37, 25656–25668 

Crystal engineering for suppressing Tm in perovskites

By leveraging molecular branching near the organic ammonium group and optimizing metal/halogen composition, 1-methylhexylammonium tin iodide achieves the lowest reported melting temperature (142 °C) among lead-free hybrid perovskite semiconductors (2023). Melt processing removes the need for solvents (a potential waste product), ability to control crystal orientation using temperature gradients, and one-step encapsulation protection without external adhesives. This allow for the deposition of perovskite films on flexible PET/PEN (plastic) substrates for flexible and wearable electronics.
Read here: Chem. Commun., 2023,59, 8302-8305 

Suppressing Tm in 1-dimensional perovskites

Hybrid lead-halide perovskites show promise yet face toxicity concerns. Substituting Bi(III) or Sb(III) isoelectronically addresses this issue, and, for the first time, extended hybrid pnictide-halide materials are melt-processed. Sb(III) analogs melt at lower temperatures, attributed to increased lone-pair stereochemical activity and reduced dimensionality. Phase-pure (S-MeTMPZ)SbI₅ films are also successfully fabricated.
Read here: Inorg. Chem. 2023, 62, 39, 16161–16169 

Phase switching in perovskite glass

Conventional phase-change memories (CDs, DVDs, SSDs) utilize laser- or voltage-driven glass-to-crystal transitions in chalcogenides. We demonstrate similar optical and electrical switching in glassy perovskite semiconductors. With sub-200 °C operating temperatures, these materials offer energy-efficient, low-power alternatives for next-generation glass-crystalline memory and metamaterial devices with reduced thermal budgets and enhanced optoelectronic contrast.

Polymorphic switching kinetics in 2D hybrid perovskites

Structural transitions in layered halide perovskites (e.g., (S-2-MeBA)2PbI4) that modulate spin splitting via symmetry breaking can be kinetically controlled. Temperature-induced transitions, influenced by cooling rates, alter chirality transfer and inversion symmetry in the inorganic layer. This approach enables spintronic tuning through controlled lattice distortions and crystal-phase switching between low and high temperature phase.  
Read here: J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2022, 144, 33, 15223–15235 

Engineering carrier lifetime in alloyed perovskite films

Cesium substitution plus controlled humidity interaction boosts carrier lifetime and stabilizing devices significantly. Cesium–bromide alloyed CsxMA1−xPbI3−xBrx perovskites (0–15 % Cs) initially show shorter lifetimes (21.5→5.8 μs), yet ambient humidity heals defects, boosting lifetimes 50–300 %. Methylamine vapor yields uniform, large-grained films, lifting lifetimes to 50 μs and >17 % efficiency. Aged Cs0.10 devices give higher Jsc with VOC, FF unchanged, demonstrating robust operation under practical storage conditions tests.
Read here: Materials Research Express 2019, 6(8), 085519 

Green solvent and non-toxic materials based perovskite devices

Perovskite solar cells promise low-cost photovoltaics, LEDs and electronics, but outdoor instability, toxic lead and solvents impede commercialization. Green fabrication strategies include non-toxic solvent systems for absorber, transport and electrode layers, life-cycle analysis of morphology versus performance, lead sequestration techniques, and lead-free perovskite alternatives enabling sustainable PSC manufacturing for scaling.  
Read here: RSC Advances, 2023, 13, 18165-18206 

Device grade Sn based perovskite films

Perovskite solar-cell efficiency soared from 3.8% to ~26%, but toxic lead remains problematic. Tin substitution cuts toxicity yet destabilizes films. We introduce a vapor-exposure step that forms an intermediate complex; subsequent annealing generates uniform, large-grained tin perovskite, curbing moisture/oxygen ingress and greatly improving device stability and long-term operational durability.
Read here: IEEE Xplore, WCPEC-2018, 0518-0521 

Dimensional down-conversion of halide perovskite films

Ethylamine-vapor cation exchange down-converts 3D MAPbI3 to 1D EAPbI3, as confirmed by extensive characterization and a proposed mechanistic model. The treatment yields compact, pinhole-free films (50–100 nm roughness; 1–3 µm grains) suitable for diverse optoelectronics. Moisture-resistant EAPbI3 layers also enable 3D–1D graded interfaces that stabilize MAPbI3 solar cells under ambient air exposure.  
Read here: Integr. Ferroelectr.  194.1 (2018): 107-114