High‐Throughput Automated Exploration of Phase Growth Behaviors in Quasi‐2D Formamidinium Metal Halide Perovskites

Abstract

AbstractQuasi‐2D metal halide perovskites (MHPs) are an emerging material platform for sustainable functional optoelectronics, but the uncontrollable, broad phase distribution remains a critical challenge for applications. Nevertheless, the basic principles for controlling phases in quasi‐2D MHPs remain poorly understood, due to the rapid crystallization kinetics during the conventional thin‐film fabrication process. Herein, a high‐throughput automated synthesis‐characterization‐analysis workflow is implemented to accelerate material exploration in formamidinium (FA)‐based quasi‐2D MHP compositional space, revealing the early‐stage phase growth behaviors fundamentally determining the phase distributions. Upon comprehensive exploration with varying synthesis conditions including 2D:3D composition ratios, antisolvent injection rates, and temperatures in an automated synthesis‐characterization platform, it is observed that the prominent n = 2 2D phase restricts the growth kinetics of 3D‐like phases—α‐FAPbI3 MHPs with spacer‐coordinated surface—across the MHP compositions. Thermal annealing is a critical step for proper phase growth, although it can lead to the emergence of unwanted local PbI2 crystallites. Additionally, fundamental insights into the precursor chemistry associated with spacer‐solvent interaction determining the quasi‐2D MHP morphologies and microstructures are demonstrated. The high‐throughput study provides comprehensive insights into the fundamental principles in quasi‐2D MHP phase control, enabling new control of the functionalities in complex materials systems for sustainable device applications.