Au-Seeded CsPbI<sub>3</sub> Nanowire Optoelectronics via Exothermic Nucleation
You Meng, Yuxuan Zhang, Zhengxun Lai, Wei Wang, Weijun Wang, Yezhan Li, Dengji Li, Pengshan Xie, Di Yin, Dong Chen, Chuntai Liu, SenPo Yip, Johnny C. Ho
Abstract
Converting vapor precursors to solid nanostructures via a liquid noble-metal seed is a common vapor deposition principle. However, such a noble-metal-seeded process is excluded from the crystalline halide perovskite synthesis, mainly hindered by the growth mechanism shortness. Herein, powered by a spontaneous exothermic nucleation process (Δ H < 0), the Au-seeded CsPbI 3 nanowires (NWs) growth is realized based on a vapor–liquid–solid (VLS) growth mode. It is energetically favored that the Au seeds are reacted with a Pb vapor precursor to form molten Au–Pb droplets at temperatures down to 212 °C, further triggering the low-temperature VLS growth of CsPbI 3 NWs. More importantly, this Au-seeded process reduces in-bandgap trap states and consequently avoids Shockley–Read–Hall recombination, contributing to outstanding photodetector performances. Our work extends the powerful Au-seeded VLS growth mode to the emerging halide perovskites, which will facilitate their nanostructures with tailored material properties.