Highly efficient photoelectric effect in halide perovskites for regenerative electron sources

• Published in: Nature communications Vol. 12; no. 1; p. 673
• Main Authors: Liu, Fangze, Sidhik, Siraj, Hoffbauer, Mark A., Lewis, Sina, Neukirch, Amanda J., Pavlenko, Vitaly, Tsai, Hsinhan, Nie, Wanyi, Even, Jacky, Tretiak, Sergei, Ajayan, Pulickel M., Kanatzidis, Mercouri G., Crochet, Jared J., Moody, Nathan A., Blancon, Jean-Christophe, Mohite, Aditya D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 29.01.2021; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 639/301/1005; 639/301/119/1000; 639/766/1130; Chemical Sciences; Critical components; Efficiency; Electron beams; Electron emission; Electron sources; Electronics, photonics and device physics; Emissions; Humanities and Social Sciences; Image intensifiers; Intensifiers; Low cost; Materials for devices; MATERIALS SCIENCE; multidisciplinary; Night vision; Perovskites; Photoelectric effect; Photoelectricity; Photomultiplier tubes; Physics; Quantum efficiency; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Semiconductors; Thin films
• ISSN: 2041-1723; 2041-1723
• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-20954-6

Electron sources are a critical component in a wide range of applications such as electron-beam accelerator facilities, photomultipliers, and image intensifiers for night vision. We report efficient, regenerative and low-cost electron sources based on solution-processed halide perovskites thin films when they are excited with light with energy equal to or above their bandgap. We measure a quantum efficiency up to 2.2% and a lifetime of more than 25 h. Importantly, even after degradation, the electron emission can be completely regenerated to its maximum efficiency by deposition of a monolayer of Cs. The electron emission from halide perovskites can be tuned over the visible and ultraviolet spectrum, and operates at vacuum levels with pressures at least two-orders higher than in state-of-the-art semiconductor electron sources. Electron sources play as important component in a wide range of applications. Here, the authors demonstrate efficient, regenerative, and low-cost electron sources based on solution-processed halide perovskite thin films with quantum efficiency up to 2.2% and a lifetime of more than 25 h.