Visible light irradiation of a mixed halide perovskite film in contact with a solvent (dichloromethane, DCM) in which the film otherwise is stable leads to selective expulsion of iodide (I) from the film with a concurrent shift in the band edge to lower wavelengths. We have now employed mixed halide perovskites to uncover the influence of A-site cation [methylammonium (MA) and cesium (Cs)] on the mobility of iodide ions under photoirradiation. In the absence of solvent contact, the mixed halide perovskite films undergo photoinduced segregation with a rate constant that decreases with increasing Cs content. Interestingly, the iodide expulsion rate in DCM is strongly dependent on the rate of photoinduced segregation. At Cs atomic concentrations greater than 50%, the films become stable as the iodide expulsion is largely suppressed. The role of the A-site cation in dictating the mobility of halide ions is discussed.

Abstract2D lead halide perovskites, which exhibit bandgap tunability and increased chemical stability, have been found to be useful for designing optoelectronic devices. Reducing dimensionality with decreasing number of layers (n = 10–1) also imparts resistance to light‐induced ion migration as seen from the halide ion segregation and dark recovery in mixed halide (Br:I = 50:50) perovskite films. The light‐induced halide ion segregation efficiency, as determined from difference absorbance spectra, decreases from 20% to <1% as the dimensionality is decreased for 2D perovskite film from n = 10 to 1. The segregation rate constant (ksegregation), which decreases from 5.9 × 10−3 s−1 (n = 10) to 3.6 × 10−4 s−1 (n = 1), correlates well with nearly an order of magnitude decrease observed in charge‐carrier lifetime (τaverage = 233 ps for n = 10 vs τavg = 27 ps for n = 1). The tightly bound excitons in 2D perovskites make charge separation less probable, which in turn decreases the halide mobility and resulting phase segregation. The importance of controlling the dimensionality of the 2D architecture in suppressing halide ion mobility is discussed.

The spacer cation in two-dimensional (2D) Ruddlesden–Popper lead halide perovskites dictates photoinduced phase segregation. Halide ion segregation under steady-state irradiation of single-layer (n = 1) 2D perovskites is seen when butylammonium (BA) is used as the spacer cation, whereas it is essentially absent when BA is replaced with phenethylammonium (PEA).

Hole trapping at iodine (I) sites in MAPbBr1.5I1.5 mixed halide perovskites (MHP) is responsible for iodine migration and its eventual expulsion into solution. We have now modulated the photoinduced iodine expulsion in MHP through an externally applied electrochemical bias. At positive potentials, electron extraction at TiO2/MHP interfaces becomes efficient, leading to hole buildup within MHP films. This improved charge separation, in turn, favors iodine migration as evident from the increased apparent rate constant of iodine expulsion (k expulsion = 0.0030 s–1). Conversely, at negative potentials (−0.3 V vs Ag/AgCl) electron–hole recombination is facilitated within MHP, slowing down iodine expulsion by an order of magnitude (k expulsion = 0.00018 s–1). The tuning of the E Fermi level through external bias modulates electron extraction at the TiO2/MHP interface and indirectly controls the buildup of holes, ultimately inducing iodine migration/expulsion. Suppressing iodine migration in perovskite solar cells is important for attaining greater stability since they operate under internal electrical bias.

Ruddlesden−Popper mixedhalide perovskite films, BA 2 PbBr 2 I 2 , undergo phase segregation when excited with visible light to generate bromide-and iodide-rich regions, as marked by absorption and emission changes. Upon stopping illumination, the process reverses, allowing original film compositions to be restored. However, if films are in contact with dichloromethane, light irradiation causes the sequential expulsion of iodide and bromide and introduces irreversible changes to the 2D films. The sequential disappearance of I − and Br − from pristine films (BA 2 Pb 2 Br 4 and BA 2 Pb 2 I 4 ) under photoirradiation, as observed from variances in expulsion rates, reflects differences in halide ion mobilities in these films. The photoinstability of 2D films raises questions about their use in stabilizing bulk, three-dimensional (3D) perovskite solar cells through 3D/2D interfaces.