Synergistic nucleation regulation using 4,4′,4′′-tris(carbazol-9-yl)-triphenylamine and moisture for stably air-processed high-performance perovskite photodetectors

Abstract

Perovskite photodetectors (PPDs) offer a promising solution with low cost and high responsivity, addressing the limitations of traditional inorganic photodetectors. However, there is still room for improvement in terms of the dark current and stability of air-processed PPDs. In this study, 4,4′,4′′-tris(carbazol-9-yl)-triphenylamine (TCTA) was utilized as a nucleation agent to enhance the quality of perovskite films. The synergistic effect of TCTA and moisture promotes rapid nucleation of PbI₂-PbCl₂, resulting in an increased nucleation rate and the elimination of pinholes in the film. By employing additive engineering, we obtained a PbI₂-PbCl₂ layer with high coverage, leading to a low density of traps in the corresponding perovskite film. Consequently, the modified PPD exhibits a remarkable reduction in dark current density by over one order of magnitude, reaching 2.4 × 10^–10 A cm⁻² at −10 mV, along with a large linear dynamic range (LDR) of 183 dB. Furthermore, the resulting PPD demonstrates remarkable stability, retaining 90% of the initial external quantum efficiency (EQE) value even after continuous operation for over 3200 hours. Owing to a fast response time in the nanosecond range, the PPD could convert modulated light signals into electrical signals at a speed of 588 Kbit s⁻¹, highlighting the great potential in the field of optical communication.