Structural and Optical Behaviour of MAPbI3 Layers in Nitrogen and Humid Air

The tendency of MA+-containing perovskites to degradation under humid air is still the main challenge which limits the durability of technologies. We indeed frame the behavior of MAPbI3 layer through structural and optical characterization under thermal cycles and using the environmental composition as a variable parameter (humid air, N2, Ar, O2). Within the temperature range explored (RT-80°C) we likely approach the thermal operation of the material under the sun and find that the degradation mechanism is linked to the action of water molecules by the formation of lattice defects. They rise the lattice disorder, especially at the crossover of the tetragonal to cubic transition wherein an acceleration of the degradation kinetics is observed. Nitrogen can help rationalizing solutions to stabilize the materials even at this critical transition step, since it behaves as more than an inert species.