Investigating the effect of applied bias on methylammonium lead iodide perovskite by electrical and positron annihilation spectroscopic studies

Abstract The formation of point defects in the crystal lattice of organic–inorganic hybrid perovskites is detrimental to the long-term stability of the perovskite-based solar cell. The observed hysteresis in organolead halide perovskite solar cell during the photocurrent measurement is believed to be the consequence of such defect sites. In the present work, we are reporting the formation of reversible and/or irreversible lattice defects in methylammonium lead iodide perovskite depending on the magnitude of bias voltage studied by electrical measurements and positron annihilation spectroscopy (PAS). Current vs voltage ( I – V ) measurements support the formation of p/n junction at the metal/semiconductor interfaces, suggesting the defects-driven ion migration under the applied bias. In-situ PAS has elucidated the nature of vacancy sites formed due to the application of bias voltage. In the lower biased voltage (<1 V), the formation of lattice defects is reversible, while beyond a threshold voltage of 1.2 V, the defects become permanent as observed by the PAS.