Gamma radiation-induced changes in the structural and optical properties of CsPbBr3 thin films for space applications

Perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) are emerging as a next generation display technology. In this regard, exploring the structural and optical stability when subjected to radiation is crucial for expanding their application in aerospace and radiation detection technologies. In this study, we investigated the effects of gamma radiation on CsPbBr₃ heterojunction thin films through a comprehensive analysis of their structural and optical characteristics. The thin films of CsPbBr₃ were subjected to varying doses of gamma radiation, ranging from 100 krad to 1 Mrad, followed by thorough examination using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and optical spectroscopy techniques. Our findings unveil significant changes in the crystal structure of CsPbBr₃ thin films when exposed to gamma radiation, including shifts in diffraction peak positions from cubic to monoclinic phases, broadening of peaks, and variations in peak intensities due to induced surface defects. The optical properties, such electroluminescence (EL) and photoluminescence (PL) intensity slightly drops at the moderate irradiation dose of 300 krad, while at an irradiation dose of 1 Mrad deteriorated severely. Notably, 300 krad is equivalent to the radiation dose accumulated by satellites in low-Earth orbit over 10 years. The findings in this work suggest the fabricated CsPbBr₃ thin film has the potential to be used in space applications.