Recently two-dimensional (2D) hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites have attracted a lot of interest as more stable analogues of their three-dimensional counterparts for optoelectronic applications. However, a thorough understanding of the effect that this reduced dimensionality has on dynamical and structural behavior of individual parts of the perovskite is currently lacking. We have used molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the structure and dynamics of 2D Ruddlesden-Popper perovskite with the general formula BA2MAn-1PbnI3n+1, where BA is butylammonium, MA is methylammonium, and n is the number of lead-iodide layers. We discuss the dynamic behavior of both the inorganic and the organic part and compare between the different 2D structures. We show that the rigidness of the inorganic layer markedly increases with the number of lead-iodide layers and that low-temperature structural phase changes accompanied by tilting of the octahedra occurs in some but not all structures. Furthermore, the dynamic behavior of the MA ion is significantly affected by the number of inorganic layers, involving changes both in the reorientation times and in the occurrence of specific preferred orientations.

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We present ab initio calculations (DFT and SOC-G0W0) of the optoelectronic properties of different hybrid-halide perovskites, namely X-PbI3 (X = methylamonimum, formamidinium, guanidinium, hydrazinium, and hydroxylammonium). These calculations shed new light on how the substitution of different organic cations in the material influences its optoelectronic properties. Our simulations show a significant modification of the lattice parameter and band gap of the material upon cation substitution. These modifications are not only due to steric effects but also due to electrostatic interactions between the organic and inorganic parts of the material. In addition to this, we demonstrate how the relative orientations of neighboring cations in the material modify the local electrostatic potential of the system and its fundamental band gap. This change in the band gap is accompanied by the formation of localized and spatially separated electronic states. These localized states modify the carrier mobility in the materials and can be a reason for the formation and recombination of the charge carriers in these very promising materials.

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We synthesize single crystals of a new 2,5-dimethylanilinium tin iodide organic-inorganic hybrid compound and 2,5-dimethylanilinium triiodide. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction reveals that the hybrid grows as a unique rhombohedral structure consisting of one-dimensional chains of SnI₆-octahedra that share corners and edges to build up a ribbon along the [111] direction. Notably, we find that hypophosphorous acid, H₃PO₂, is of central importance to the formation of this hybrid. In the absence of H₃PO₂, we synthesize 2,5-dimethylanilinium triiodide from the same starting compounds. We investigate the synthesis routes that drive the growth of these two compounds with distinct crystal structures, appearance and properties. Pulse-radiolysis time-resolved microwave conductivity measurements and density functional theory calculations reveal that both compounds have low charge carrier mobilities and very long lifetimes, consistent with their one-dimensional structural characteristics. Our findings give a better understanding of the relation between synthesis, crystal structures and charge carrier mobilities.

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Hybrid halide perovskites are currently the most studied optoelectronic materials. They have been successfully employed as the active material in solar cells. Despite the achieved success of these materials, the properties of these hybrid frameworks of an inorganic lattice that includes organic cations are not fully understood. This is because of the multiple complex processes that are operative in these materials and it is very hard to unravel them just on basis of experiments. Therefore, computational studies of these materials are important to gain insight in the material structure, the electronic structure and the processes dictated by these properties. An additional advantage of computational studies is that properties can be predicted without actually making the materials in the lab. Such computational study thus give insights in the functioning of hybrid perovskite materials and gives directions to their further development. Of particular interest in this thesis is the role of the organic cation. In some earlier studies it has been pointed out that he role and presence of the organic cations is just limited to stabilizing the structure of hybrid perovskites without influencing the electronic energy states. In this thesis we examine the role of the organic cation in detail, demonstrating that the organic cation has a distinct effect on the electronic structure of hybrid halide perovskites. @en

Low-dimensional lead halide hybrid perovskites are nowadays in the spotlight because of their improved stability and extensive chemical flexibility compared to their 3D perovskite counterparts, the current challenge being to design functionalized organic cations. Here, we report on the synthesis and full characterization of a perovskite-like hybrid (a perovskitoid) where the 1D lead iodide layout is patterned with a donor-acceptor charge transfer complex (CTC) between pyrene and tetracyanoquinodimethane, with a chemical formula of (C₂₀H₁₇NH₃)PbI₃·(C₁₂H₄N₄). By combining multiple structural analysis and spectroscopic techniques with ab initio modeling, we show that the electronic, optical, and charge-transport properties of the hybrid materials are dominated by the organic CTC, with the inorganic backbone primarily acting as a template for the organization of the donor and acceptor molecules. Interestingly, time-resolved microwave conductivity (TRMC) measurements show an enhanced photocurrent generation in the 1D hybrid compared to the pure organic charge-transfer salt, likely associated with transient localization of the holes on the lead-iodide octahedra. This observation is in line with the close energy resonance between the valence crystal orbitals of the lead-iodide lattice and the frontier occupied molecular orbitals of pyrene predicted by the DFT calculations. Therefore, it paves the way toward the design of new hybrid low-dimensionality perovskites offering a synergic combination of organic and inorganic functionalities.

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The rotational dynamics of an organic cation in hybrid halide perovskites is intricately linked to the phase transitions that are known to occur in these materials; however, the exact relation is not clear. We have performed detailed model studies on methylammonium lead iodide and formamidinium lead iodide to unravel the relation between rotational dynamics and phase behavior. We show that the occurrence of the phase transitions is due to a subtle interplay between dipole-dipole interactions between the organic cations, specific (hydrogen bonding) interactions between the organic cation and the lead iodide lattice, and deformation of the lead iodide lattice in reaction to the reduced rotational motion of the organic cations. This combination of factors results in phase transitions at specific temperatures, leading to the formation of large organized domains of dipoles. The latter can have significant effects on the electronic structure of these materials.

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Two-dimensional (2D) halide perovskites are a class of materials in which 2D layers of perovskite are separated by large organic cations. Conventionally, the 2D perovskites incorporate organic cations as spacers, but these organic cations also offer a route to introduce specific functionality in the material. In this work, we demonstrate, by density functional theory calculations, that the introduction of electron withdrawing and electron donating molecules leads to the formation of localized states, either in the organic or the inorganic part. Furthermore, we show that the energy of the bands located in the organic and inorganic parts can be tuned independently. The organic cation levels can be tuned by changing the electron withdrawing/donating character, whereas the energy levels in the inorganic part can be modified by varying the number of inorganic perovskite layers. This opens a new window for the design of 2D perovskites with properties tuned for specific applications.

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