Two-Dimensional Lead(II) Halide-Based Hybrid Perovskites Templated by Acene Alkylamines: Crystal Structures, Optical Properties, and Piezoelectricity

A series of two-dimensional (2D) hybrid organic-inorganic perovskite (HOIP) crystals, based on acene alkylamine cations (i.e., phenylmethylammonium (PMA), 2-phenylethylammonium (PEA), 1-(2-naphthyl)methanammonium (NMA), and 2-(2-naphthyl)ethanammonium (NEA)) and lead(II) halide (i.e., PbX₄^2-, X = Cl, Br, and I) frameworks, and their corresponding thin films were fabricated and examined for structure-property relationship. Several new or redetermined crystal structures are reported, including those for (NEA)₂PbI₄, (NEA)₂PbBr₄, (NMA)₂PbBr₄, (PMA)₂PbBr₄, and (PEA)₂PbI₄. Non-centrosymmetric structures from among these 2D HOIPs were confirmed by piezoresponse force microscopy - especially noteworthy is the structure of (PMA)₂PbBr₄, which was previously reported as centrosymmetric. Examination of the impact of organic cation and inorganic layer choice on the exciton absorption/emission properties, among the set of compounds considered, reveals that perovskite layer distortion (i.e., Pb-I-Pb bond angle between adjacent PbI₆ octahedra) has a more global effect on the exciton properties than octahedral distortion (i.e., variation of I-Pb-I bond angles and discrepancy among Pb-I bond lengths within each PbI₆ octahedron). In addition to the characteristic sharp exciton emission for each perovskite, (PMA)₂PbCl₄, (PEA)₂PbCl₄, (NMA)₂PbCl₄, and (PMA)₂PbBr₄ exhibit separate, broad "white" emission in the long wavelength range. Piezoelectric compounds identified from these 2D HOIPs may be considered for future piezoresponse-type energy or electronic applications.