Perovskite Synthesis

Perovskite crystals can be found in ultrasound machines, electronic chips, and solar cells because they are semiconductors. Semiconductors can transport electric charge when light hits the material.

Perovskites are ionic crystals composed of cations and anions. The typical structure of perovskite crystals is ABX₃, where A and B are cations and X is an anion that bonds to both A and B. Many different cations (like Fe²⁺, Mg²⁺, Sr²⁺) and anions (like O^2‒, Cl^‒, I^‒) can be combined to produce diverse perovskite structures with unique physical, optical, and electronic characteristics. This variety enables scientists to design and create new perovskite crystals that have optimal characteristics for the desired application. In our example, we use Cs⁺_, Pb²⁺, and Br^‒ to create a yellow perovskite, CsPbBr₃ 

In this video you’ll see a materials chemist carryout a reaction in a well-ventilated flume hood. 

This type of benchwork is what synthetic materials chemists do daily, but perovskite crystals should only be conducted by trained professionals with the correct equipment. Don’t try this at home!

Interested students are encouraged to view the cited publication on the title page to learn more (free to access on IU campus).