Direct Observation of Dynamic Symmetry Breaking above Room Temperature in Methylammonium Lead Iodide Perovskite

Lead halide perovskites such as methylammonium lead triiodide (MAPI) have outstanding optical and electronic properties for photovoltaic applications, yet a full understanding of how this solution processable material works so well is currently missing. Previous research has revealed that MAPI possesses multiple forms of static disorder regardless of preparation method, which is surprising in light of its excellent performance. Using high energy resolution inelastic X-ray (HERIX) scattering, we measure phonon dispersions in MAPI and find direct evidence for another form of disorder in single crystals: large amplitude anharmonic zone-edge rotational instabilities of the PbI_6 octahedra that persist to room temperature and above, left over from structural phase transitions that take place tens to hundreds of degrees below. Phonon calculations show that the orientations of the methylammonium couple strongly and cooperatively to these modes. The result is a non-centrosymmetric, instantaneous local structure, which we observe in atomic pair distribution function (PDF) measurements. This local symmetry breaking is unobservable by Bragg diffraction, but can explain key material properties such as the structural phase sequence, ultra low thermal transport, and large minority charge carrier lifetimes despite moderate carrier mobility.Comment: 30 pages, 11 figure

Total scattering reveals the hidden stacking disorder in a 2D covalent organic framework

Interactions between extended π-systems are often invoked as the main driving force for stacking and crystallization of 2D organic polymers. In covalent organic frameworks (COFs), the stacking strongly influences properties such as the accessibility of functional sites, pore geometry, and surface states, but the exact nature of the interlayer interactions is mostly elusive. The stacking mode is often identified as eclipsed based on observed high symmetry diffraction patterns. However, as pointed out by various studies, the energetics of eclipsed stacking are not favorable and offset stacking is preferred. This work presents lower and higher apparent symmetry modifications of the imine-linked TTI-COF prepared through high- and low-temperature reactions. Through local structure investigation by pair distribution function analysis and simulations of stacking disorder, we observe random local layer offsets in the low temperature modification. We show that while stacking disorder can be easily overlooked due to the apparent crystallographic symmetry of these materials, total scattering methods can help clarify this information and suggest that defective local structures could be much more prevalent in COFs than previously thought. A detailed analysis of the local structure helps to improve the search for and design of highly porous tailor-made materials

Cation Exchange Induced Transformation of InP Magic-Sized Clusters

Magic-sized clusters (MSCs) can provide valuable insight into the atomically precise progression of semiconductor nanocrystal transformations. We report the conversion of an InP MSC to a Cd3P2 MSC through a cation exchange mechanism and attempt to shed light on the evolution of the physical and electronic structure of the clusters during the transformation. Utilizing a combination of spectroscopic (NMR/UV–vis) and structural characterization (ICP-OES/MS/PXRD/XPS/PDF) tools, we demonstrate retention of the original InP MSC crystal lattice as Z-type ligand exchange initially occurs. Further cation exchange induces lattice relaxation and a significant structural rearrangement. These observations contrast with reports of cation exchange in InP quantum dots, indicating unique reactivity of the InP MSC

Adsorptive removal of iodate oxyanions from water using a Zr-based metal–organic framework

A Zr$_6$-based metal–organic framework (MOF), MOF-808, is investigated for the adsorptive removal of IO$_3$− from aqueous solutions, due to its high surface area and abundance of open metal sites. The uptake kinetics, adsorption capacity and binding mode are studied, showing a maximum uptake capacity of 233 mg g$^{−1}$, the highest reported by any material

Fast Water-Assisted Lithium Ion Conduction in Restacked Lithium Tin Sulfide Nanosheets

While two-dimensional (2D) materials may preserve some intrinsic properties of the corresponding layered bulk material, new characteristics arise from their pronounced anisotropy or confinement effects. Recently, exceptionally high ionic conductivities were discovered in 2D materials such as graphene oxide and vermiculite. Here, we report on the water-assisted fast conduction of lithium ions in restacked lithium tin sulfide nanosheets. Li0.8Sn0.8S2 exfoliates spontaneously in water and can be restacked into homogeneous films in which the lithium content is decreased, and a partial substitution of sulfur with hydroxyl groups takes place. Using a recursive supercell refinement approach in reciprocal space along with real-space pair distribution function analysis, we describe restacked lithium tin sulfide as a partially turbostratically disordered material composed of lithium-containing and lithium-depleted layers. In humid air, the material takes up multiple layers of water that coordinate lithium ions in the space between the layers, increasing the stacking distance and screening the interaction between lithium ions and the anionic layers. This results in a 1000-fold increase in ionic conductivity up to 47 mS cm–1 at high humidities. Orientation-dependent impedance spectroscopy suggests a facile in-plane conduction and a hindered out-of-plane conduction. Pulsed field gradient nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy reveals a fast, simultaneous diffusion of a majority and a minority species for both 7Li and 1H, suggesting water-assisted lithium diffusion to be at play. This study enlarges the family of nanosheet-based ionic conductors and helps to rationalize the transport mechanism of lithium ions enabled by hydration in a nanoconfined 2D space

Unlocking new Topologies in Zr-based Metal–Organic Frameworks by Combining Linker Flexibility and Building Block Disorder

The outstanding diversity of Zr-based frameworks is inherently linked to the variable coordination geometry of Zr-oxo clusters and the conformational flexibility of the linker, both of which allow for different framework topologies based on the same linker–cluster combination. In addition, intrinsic structural disorder provides a largely unexplored handle to further expand the accessibility of novel metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) structures that can be formed. In this work we report the concomitant synthesis of three topologically different MOFs based on the same M6O4(OH)4 clusters (M = Zr or Hf) and methane-tetrakis(p-biphenyl-carboxylate) (MTBC) linkers. Two novel structural models are presented based on single crystal diffraction analysis, namely cubic c (4,12)MTBC-M6 and trigonal tr (4,12)MTBC-M6, which comprise 12-coordinated clusters and 4 coordinated tetrahedral linkers. Notably, the cubic phase features a new architecture based on orientational cluster disorder, which is essential for its formation and has been analyzed by a combination of average structure refinements and diffuse scattering analysis from both powder and single crystal X-ray diffraction data. The trigonal phase also features structure disorder, although involving both linkers and secondary building units. In both phases, remarkable geometrical distortion of the MTBC linkers illustrates how linker flexibility is also essential for their formation and expands the range of achievable topologies in Zr-based MOFs and its analogues

Unlocking New Topologies in Zr-Based Metal–Organic Frameworks by Combining Linker Flexibility and Building Block Disorder

The outstanding diversity of Zr-based frameworks is inherently linked to the variable coordination geometry of Zr-oxo clusters and the conformational flexibility of the linker, both of which allow for different framework topologies based on the same linker–cluster combination. In addition, intrinsic structural disorder provides a largely unexplored handle to further expand the accessibility of novel metal–organic framework (MOF) structures that can be formed. In this work, we report the concomitant synthesis of three topologically different MOFs based on the same M$_6$O$_4$(OH)4 clusters (M = Zr or Hf) and methane-tetrakis($p$-biphenyl-carboxylate) (MTBC) linkers. Two novel structural models are presented based on single-crystal diffraction analysis, namely, cubic c-(4,12)MTBC-M$_6$ and trigonal tr-(4,12)MTBC-M$_6$, which comprise 12-coordinated clusters and 4-coordinated tetrahedral linkers. Notably, the cubic phase features a new architecture based on orientational cluster disorder, which is essential for its formation and has been analyzed by a combination of average structure refinements and diffuse scattering analysis from both powder and single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. The trigonal phase also features structure disorder, although involving both linkers and secondary building units. In both phases, remarkable geometrical distortion of the MTBC linkers illustrates how linker flexibility is also essential for their formation and expands the range of achievable topologies in Zr-based MOFs and its analogues

Computation-informed optimization of Ni(PyC)₂ functionalization for noble gas separations

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are promising nanoporous materials for the adsorptive capture and separation of noble gases at room temperature. Among the numerous MOFs synthesized and tested for noble gas separations, Ni(PyC)₂ (PyC = pyridine-4-carboxylate) exhibits one of the highest xenon/krypton selectivities at room temperature. Like lead-optimization in drug discovery, here we aim to tune the chemistry of Ni(PyC)₂, by appending a functional group to its PyC ligands, to maximize its Xe/Kr selectivity. To guide experiments in the laboratory, we virtually screen Ni(PyC-X)₂ (X=functional group) structures for noble gas separations by (i) constructing a library of Ni(PyC-X)₂ crystal structure models then (ii) using molecular simulations to predict noble gas (Xe, Kr, Ar) adsorption and selectivity at room temperature in each structure. The virtual screening predicts several Ni(PyC-X)₂ structures to exhibit a higher Xe/Kr, Xe/Ar, and Kr/Ar selectivity than the parent Ni(PyC)₂ MOF, with Ni(PyC-m-NH₂)₂ among them. In the laboratory, we synthesize Ni(PyC-m-NH₂)₂, determine its crystal structure by X-ray powder diffraction, and measure its Xe, Kr, and Ar adsorption isotherms (298 K). In agreement with our molecular simulations, the Xe/Kr, Xe/Ar, and Kr/Ar selectivities of Ni(PyC-m-NH₂)₂ exceed those of the parent Ni(PyC)₂. Particularly, Ni(PyC-m-NH₂)₂ exhibits a [derived from experimental, equilibrium adsorption isotherms] Xe/Kr selectivity of 20 at dilute conditions and 298 K, compared to 17 for Ni(PyC)₂. According to in situ X-ray diffraction, corroborated by molecular models, Ni(PyC-m-NH₂)₂ presents well-defined binding pockets tailored for Xe and organized along its one-dimensional channels. In addition to discovering the new, performant Ni(PyC-m-NH₂)₂ MOF for noble gas separations, our study illustrates the computation-informed optimization of the chemistry of a "lead" MOF to target adsorption of a specific gas