Hybrid Perovskite Degradation from an Optical Perspective: A Spectroscopic Ellipsometry Study from the Deep Ultraviolet to the Middle Infrared

A quantitative analysis of the thermally induced degradation of various device-relevant multi-cation hybrid perovskite films is performed using spectroscopic ellipsometry, for temperatures between 80 and 120 degrees C. The studied compositions are a triple cation perovskite Cs-0.05(MA(0.17)FA(0.83))(0.95)Pb(Br0.17I0.83)(3), a Rb-containing variant Rb0.05Cs0.05(MA(0.17)FA(0.83))(0.90)Pb(Br0.17I0.83)(3), and a methylammonium-free Rb(0.05)Cs(0.10)FA(0.85)PbI(3) composition. A very wide combined spectral range of 200 nm to 25 mu m is covered by combining the data from two separate instruments. The relative changes in organic cation concentrations are quantified from the middle infrared molecular absorption bands, leveraging the use of point-by-point fitting for increased sensitivity. Additionally, the formation of PbI2 and non-perovskite delta-CsPbI3 phases is evidenced from Bruggemann effective medium fits to the visible and ultraviolet complex refractive indices. Methylammonium is almost completely depleted from the relevant compositions within 100 to 285 min of thermal annealing. The MA-free perovskite degrades faster at intermediate temperatures, which is attributed to phase instability due to the formation of delta-CsPbI3 in addition to PbI2.