Reversible Glass‐Crystal Transition in a New Type of 2D Metal Halide Perovskites

Abstract

Crystalline metal halide perovskites (MHPs) have ushered in remarkable advancements across diverse fields, including materials, electronics, and photonics. While the advantages of crystallinity are well‐established, the ability to transition to a glassy state with unique properties presents unprecedented opportunities to expand the structure‐property relationship and broaden the application scope for 2D MHPs. Up until now, the exploration of amorphous analogs for MHPs is confined to high‐pressure conditions, limiting in‐depth studies and practical applications. In this context, a new type of 2D MHPs is synthesized by incorporating halogen substituted organic cations, resulting in a remarkable combination of low melting temperature and inhibited crystallization. This new type of 2D MHPs can be effectively melt‐quenched into a glassy state except for (DMIEA)3Pb2I7 (DMIEA = N, N‐dimethyl iodoethylammonium) counterpart. Analysis of the crystallization activation energy for (DMIPA)4Pb3I10 (DMIPA = N, N‐dimethyl iodopropylammonium) reveals a low crystallization activation energy of 60.7 ± 4.0 kJ mol−1, which indicates a fast glass‐crystal transition. The type of atypical 2D MHP showcases facile and reversible switching between glassy and crystalline states and opens up novel possibilities for applications, such as nonvolatile memory, optical communication, and neuromorphic computing.