Understanding the impact of SrI2 additive on the properties of Sn-based halide perovskites

Organic-inorganic halide perovskites have been identified as favorable candidates for the next generation of photovoltaics. Adding alkali metal halides to perovskite films has been shown to be a viable option to improve the perovskite film quality and to modulate their fundamental properties. In this work, we perform optical and electron-beam based characterizations of mixed Sn/Pb based perovskite films to investigate the effect of the addition of the alkaline metal halide SrI2. By analyzing structural (X-ray diffraction), morphological (Scanning Electron Microscopy), optical (photoluminescence), and chemical properties (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy), we show a complex interplay of effects upon addition of Sr2+ into the perovskite solution. Low concentrations of Sr2+ increases lattice strain, which hints at incorporation of the additive into the perovskite lattice and improves the film optoelectronic properties. As the additive concentration increases beyond 0.5 mol %, microstrain decreases. At concentrations >0.5 mol %, Sr2+ induces significant reduction of the average domain size, which impacts both structural and optical properties of the perovskite film.