KAVLI ENSI Workshop On Emerging Perovskite Materials

Workshop on Emerging Perovskite Materials

On Friday April 22nd 2016, over sixty postdocs and graduate students from thirteen different groups attended the Kavli ENSI Workshop on Emerging Perovskite Materials. Ten postdocs and graduate students gave presentations on their research on a variety of topics related to halide perovskites. Topics ranged from developing new perovskite-based photovoltaic devices to synthesizing perovskite nanomaterials to novel calculations to uncovering subtleties of the electronic properties of hybrid perovskites. Each speaker was peppered with questions following their talk.

At the end of the workshop, participants split into small groups to discuss different aspects of perovskite-related research. Uncovering the pressure-dependence of phase transitions was discussed, as well as how to grow perovskite films epitaxially and control the strain. A major discussion topic was how dimensionality affects the properties of perovskite materials and how to model these materials taking dimensionality into account. One topic, introduced by David Limmer at the beginning of the workshop, that was of interest to many attendees was level of disorder in perovskite materials spanning many different lengths scales and the hierarchy of energy scales that makes simulating these materials very difficult. During the discussion, students and postdocs listed a number of parameters that are important for high-performing perovskite devices, such as a stability, mobility, and defect tolerance.

Overall, the event was a successful way to bring different Kavli ENSI groups together and spur collaborations between different groups working on halide perovskites. Many different theory-experiment and synthesis-measurement connections were made that will allow Kavli ENSI to fully take advantage of the depth and breadth of talent and facilities within the Institute in order to target discovery that could not occur within any single research group. The workshop also served as a medium for Kavli graduate students and postdocs to learn about the research regarding perovskites within the Kavli ENSI.

Both the workshop participants and the PIs convening afterward were enthused about the level of interest, the high quality of presentations, and the extent of dialog that ensued. Future workshop topics, such as 2D materials, were discussed and will be pursued on an ad hoc, interest-motivated basis.