Influence of Temperature, Pressure, and Humidity on the Stabilities and Transition Kinetics of the Various Polymorphs of FAPbI3

The phase transitions between the various polymorphs of FAPbI3 (FAPI, FA = formamidinium [CH(NH2)2]+) are studied by anelastic, dielectric, and X-ray diffraction measurements on samples pressed from δ-FAPI (2H phase) yellow powder. The samples become orange after application of as little as 0.2 GPa, which has been explained in terms of partial transformations to the other hexagonal polymorphs 4H and 6H. The phenomenon is discussed in the light of what is known about the stability of the various polymorphs of hybrid and inorganic perovskites ABX3 with large A cations and hence a large tolerance factor t. Remarkably, FAPI at room and higher temperatures behaves like a perovskite with a large t, while just below room temperature it behaves like a perovskite with a small t. The kinetics of the transformations between the polymorphs is enhanced by small amounts of intercalated water. It seems therefore worthy to try improving the atomic diffusion and crystallization during synthesis, and hence the final photovoltaic performance, through controlled small amounts of water that should be thoroughly removed after a sufficiently homogeneous and smooth microstructure is achieved.