Crystal growth and characterization of few multifunctional materials with perovskite (ABX3) structure are discussed in this thesis. Efforts were made to modify the magnetic and electric behaviour of these materials by selective tuning of A, B and X components. Structural, magnetic and dielectric characterization are detailed in various chapters for doped (A and B site) rare-earth manganites and organometallic compounds with different (Chloride or formate) anions. The relevant aspects of crystal structure and its relationship with ordered ground states are discussed in the introductory chapter. A detailed review of prominent theories pertaining to magnetic and ferroelectric ordering in the literature is provided. Growth of various inorganic compounds by solid-state reaction and floating zone method as well as use of solvothermal techniques for growing organometallic compounds are discussed. Material preparation, optimization of crystal growth processes and results of characterization are addressed in various chapters. The effect of Yttrium doping on structural, magnetic and dielectric properties of rare-earth manganites (RMnO3 where R = Nd, Pr) has been investigated. Neutron diffraction studies (Pr compounds) confirm A-type antiferromagnetic structure and fall in transition temperature as the Yttrium doping level increases. Diffraction experiments in conjunction with dc magnetization and ac susceptibility studies reveal magnetic frustration in excess Yttrium dopedcompounds. When mutliglass properties of 50% B-site doped Nd2NiMnO6 were investigated, evidence of re-entrant cluster glass phase was seen probably due to presence of anti-site disorder. The relaxor-like dielectric behaviour arises from crossover of relaxation time in grain and grain boundary regions. Multiferroic behaviour of the organometallic compound (C2H5NH3)2CuCl4 as well as the ferroelectric transition were investigated in detail. The role of Hydrogen bond ordering in driving structural transitions is elucidated by low temperature dielectric and Raman studies in (C2H5NH3)2CdCl4. It was found possible to tune the magnetic and ferroelectric properties in metal formate compounds (general formula AB(HCOO)3) by selectively choosing organic cations [(CH3)2NH2+; C(NH3)3+] and transition metal ion [B = Mn, Co and Cu]. The nature of magnetic ordering and transition temperature could be altered by the transition metal ion. The effect of reorientation of organic cations which leads to ferroelectric nature is discussed using dielectric and pyroelectric data. Significant results are summarized in the chapter outlining general conclusions. Future prospects of work based on these observations are also provided. The conclusions are corroborated by detailed analysis of experimental data.

Les polyoxométallates (POM) sont des composés anioniques constitués par l’assemblage de polyèdres d’oxydes métalliques {MOy}, (avec M, MoVI ou WVI) reliés entre eux par des atomes d'oxygène. Les POM forment ainsi une classe remarquable de clusters d’oxydes métalliques inorganiques nanométriques, avec une grande variété de charges et de structures. Il est possible de former des systèmes hybrides incluant la partie inorganique du POM et une partie organique greffée, permettant d’apporter de nouvelles fonctionnalités aux POM, tel que l’auto-assemblage. Nous avons consacré ces travaux de thèse à la caractérisation de systèmes classiques, hybrides et auto-assemblés de POM par spectrométrie de masse couplée à la spectrométrie à la mobilité ionique (IMS-MS). Une première approche expérimentale par spectrométrie de mobilité ionique en tube de dérive (DTIMS) nous a permis de déterminer les sections efficaces de collisions (CCS) de POM étalons dans l’hélium et dans l’azote. Les CCS des étalons POM nous ont ensuite permis d’étalonner une cellule IMS de type Travelling Wave (TWIMS). L’analyse par IMS-MS de POM hybrides organiques-inorganiques seuls ou en présence de PdCl2 a mis en évidence la présence de systèmes auto-assemblés triangulaires [POM3·cation3], carrés [POM4·cation4] ou pentagonaux [POM5·cation5] avec différents états de charges. Des valeurs de CCS de ces auto-assemblages ont également pu être estimées à partir de l’étalonnage de la cellule TWIMS. Par une approche théorique, nous avons modélisé plusieurs structures de POM standards avec et sans contre-ion tetrabutylammonium (TBA+) par la théorie de la fonctionnelle de la densité (DFT). Les structures optimisées ont été utilisées afin de déterminer des CCS théoriques grâce au logiciel MOBCAL, auquel nous avons incorporé les atomes de molybdène et de tungstène pour lesquels nous avons optimisé de nouveaux paramètres de potentiel de Lennard Jones. La correspondance des CCS expérimentales et théoriques des structures de POM standards offre de nouvelles possibilités pour une attribution structurale pour les POM hybrides auto-assemblés par coordination en présence de cations métalliques. / Polyoxometalates (POM) are anionic compounds formed by the assembly of metal oxide polyhedra {MOy}, (with M, MoVI or WVI) linked together by oxygen atoms. POM thus form a remarkable class of nanometric inorganic metal oxide clusters, with a wide variety of charges and structures. It is possible to form hybrid systems including the inorganic part of the POM and a grafted organic part, allowing new functionalities to be added to the POM, such as selfassembly. We have dedicated this thesis work to the characterization of standards, hybrid and self-assembled POM systems by mass spectrometry coupled to ion mobility spectrometry (IMS-MS). A first experimental approach using drift tube ion mobility spectrometry (DTIMS) allowed us to determine the collision cross sections (CCS) of standard POM in helium and nitrogen. The CCS of the POM standards then allowed us to calibrate an IMS cell of a Travelling Wave ion mobility instrument (TWIMS). The analysis by IMS-MS of organic-inorganic hybrid POMs alone or in the presence of transition metal cations revealed the presence of self-assembled triangular [POM3·cation3], square [POM4·cation4] or pentagonal [POM5·cation5] systems with different charge states. CCS values of these self-assemblies was estimated from the calibration of the TWIMS cell. Using a theoretical approach, we modelled several standard POM structures with and without tetrabutylammonium counterion (TBA+) using density functional theory (DFT). The optimized structures were used to determine theoretical CCS using the trajectory method of the MOBCAL software, in which we incorporated molybdenum and tungsten atoms for which we optimized new Lennard Jones potential parameters. The correspondence of experimental and theoretical CCS of standard POM structures offers new possibilities for structural attribution of self-assembled hybrid POM by coordination in the presence of metal cations.

In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird die Synthese neuartiger, polynuklearer Bismutoxido-Cluster sowie deren Potential zur Verwendung als Bausteine zum Aufbau organisch-anorganischer Hybridmaterialien beschrieben. Die molekularen Verbindungen werden nach partieller Hydrolyse eines basischen Bismutnitrats in DMSO erhalten. Durch Zugabe von Additiven wie Carbon- und Sulfonsäuren können funktionalisierte Bismutoxido-Cluster erzeugt werden, die eine gute Löslichkeit in organischen polaren Lösungsmitteln besitzen. Die Charakterisierung der Produkte erfolgte mittels Einkristallröntgenstrukturanalyse, NMR- und IR-Spektroskopie sowie ESI-Massenspektrometrie. Erste Untersuchungen zur Synthese röntgenopaker organisch-anorganischer Hybridmaterialien auf der Basis von Bismutoxido-Clustern und Methylmethacrylat wurden durchgeführt. Hierzu wurde der nanoskalige Bismutoxido-Cluster [Bi38O45(OMc)24] als anorganischer Baustein gewählt. Die Oberfläche des Bismut-Sauerstoff-Gerüsts dieser Verbindung ist mit Methacrylat-Liganden bedeckt, welche eine gute Löslichkeit vermitteln und durch ihre polymerisierbaren Funktionalitäten eine kovalente Anbindung z. B. an Vinylmonomere ermöglichen. Die radikalische Copolymerisation von [Bi38O45(OMc)24] mit Methylmethacrylat liefert transparente Komposite, die anhand von Festkörper-NMR-Spektroskopie, IR-Spektroskopie sowie TG- und DSC-Analyse charakterisiert wurden.

The acid and base catalyzed simultaneous twin polymerization (STP) of various 2,2′-disubstituted 4H-1,3,2-benzodioxasiline derivatives 2a–d with 2,2′-spirobi[4H-1,3,2-benzodioxasiline] (1) are presented in this paper. The products are nanostructured ternary organic–inorganic hybrid materials consisting of a cross-linked organic polymer, silica and a disubstituted polysiloxane. It can be demonstrated whether and in which extent the copolymerization of the two inorganic fragments of 1 and 2 takes place among the STP and how the molar ratio of the two components determines the structure formation of the resulting hybrid material. Steric and electronic effects of the substituents at the silicon center of 2 on the molecular structure formation and the morphology of the resulting hybrid material were investigated by means of solid state CP MAS 29Si and 13C NMR spectroscopy as well as high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM). The mechanical properties (hardness and Young's modulus) of the hybrid materials were analyzed by means of nanoindentation measurements. / Dieser Beitrag ist aufgrund einer (DFG-geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.

<p>  </p> <p>Organic-inorganic halide perovskites are at the brink of commercialization as the next generation of light-absorbing materials for solar energy harvesting devices. Perovskites have large absorption coefficients, long charge-carrier lifetimes and diffusion lengths, and a tunable absorption spectrum. Furthermore, these materials can be low-temperature solution-processed, which transfers to low-cost manufacturing and cost-competitive products. The remarkable material properties of perovskites enable a broad product-market fit, encompassing traditional and new applications for solar technology. Perovskites can be deposited on flexible substrates for flexible solar cells, applied in thermochromic windows for power generation and building cooling, or tuned for tandem solar cell application to include in high-performance solar panels. However, perovskites are intrinsically unstable, which has so far prevented their commercialization. Despite large research efforts, including over two thousand publications per year, perovskite solar cells degrade in under one year of operation. In a saturated research field, new ideas are needed to inspire alternative approaches to solve the perovskite stability problem. In this dissertation, we detail research efforts surrounding the concept of a self-healing perovskite solar cell.</p> <p>     A self-healing perovskite solar cell can be classified with two distinctions: mechanically healing and molecularly healing. First, mechanically self-healing involves the material’s ability to recover its intrinsic properties after mechanical damage such as tares, lacerations, or cracking. This type of healing was unique to the organic polymer community and ultra-rare in semiconducting materials. By combining a self-healing polymer with perovskite material, we developed a self-healing semiconducting perovskite composite material which can heal using synergistic grain growth and solid-state diffusion processes at slightly elevated temperatures. The material is demonstrated in flexible solar cells with improved bending durability and a power conversion efficiency reaching 10%. The addition of fluidic polymer enables macroscopic perovskite material movement, which is otherwise brittle and rigid. The results inspire the use of polymer scaffolds for mechanically self-healing solar cells.</p> <p>     The second type of healing, molecular healing, involves healing defects within the rigid crystal domains resulting from ion migration. The same phenomenon which leads to device degradation, also assists the recovery of the device performance after resting the device in the dark. During device operation, perovskite ions diffuse in the perovskite lattice and accumulate at the device interfaces where they undergo chemical reactions or leave the perovskite layer, ultimately consuming the perovskite precursors. The photovoltaic performance can be recovered if irreversible degradation is limited. Ideally, degradation and recovery can match day and night cycling to dramatically extend the lifetime of perovskite solar cells. In this dissertation, we introduce the application of chalcogenide chemistry in the fabrication of perovskite solar cells to control the thin film crystallization process, ultimately to reduce defects in the perovskite bulk and introduce surface functionality which extends the device stability. This new strategy will help improve molecularly self-healing perovskite solar cell by reducing irreversible degradation. Lastly, we present a few other new ideas to inspire future research in perovskite solar cells and assist in the commercialization of the next generation of photovoltaics.</p>

Solarzellen aus organisch-anorganischen hybriden Perowskithalbleitern gelten als mögliche Schlüsseltechnologie zur Erzeugung günstiger und umweltfreundlicher elektrischer Energie und somit als Meilenstein für die Energiewende. Um die weltweit stetig wachsende Nachfrage an elektrischer Energie zu decken, bedarf es Solarzellentechnologien, welche gleichzeitig eine hohe Effizienz nahe dem Shockley-Queisser-Limit als auch eine hinreichend gute Stabilität aufweisen. Während die Effizienz von Solarzellen auf Basis von Perowskithalbleitern in dem letzten Jahrzehnt eine bemerkenswerte Entwicklung erfahren hat, lassen sich die wesentlichen physikalischen Mechanismen dieser Technologie noch nicht vollständig erklären. Die elektronisch-ionische Mischleitfähigkeit ist eine dieser Eigenschaften, welche die Effizienz und besonders die Stabilität der Perowskit-Solarzelle beeinflusst. Zentrales Thema dieser Arbeit ist daher die Untersuchung von mobilen ionischen Defekten und deren Einfluss auf Solarzellenparametern. Es wird gezeigt, dass die Migrationsraten ionischer Defekte in Perowskit breiten Verteilungen unterliegen. Durch die Anwendung eines neu entwickelten Regularisationsalgorithmus für inverse Laplace-Transformationen und verschiedener Messmoden für transiente Störstellenspektroskopie kann somit geklärt werden, warum sich berichtete ionische Defektparameter aus der Literatur für gleiche Defekte stark unterscheiden können. Dieses grundlegende Verständnis kann angewendet werden, um den Einfluss von kleinen stöchiometrischen Variationen auf die Defektlandschaft zu untersuchen und das Zusammenspiel zwischen elektronischen und ionischen Eigenschaften besser zu verstehen. Der Einsatz der Meyer-Neldel Regel ermöglicht ferner eine Kategorisierung ionischer Defekte in Perowskithalbleitern. Im letzten Teil dieser Arbeit wird gezeigt, dass elektrische und optische Methoden wie intensitätsmodulierte Spektroskopie geeignet sind, um Informationen über mobile Ionen in hybriden Perowskiten zu erhalten. Zusätzlich wird das elektronische Rekombinationsverhalten näher untersucht. / Solar cells made of organic–inorganic hybrid perovskite semiconductors are considered as a possible key technology for the conversion of cheap and environmentally friendly electrical energy and thus as a milestone for the turnaround in energy policy. In order to meet the steadily growing global demand for electrical energy, solar cell tech- nologies are required that are both highly efficient, i.e. close to the Shockley–Queisser limit, and sufficiently stable. While the efficiency of solar cells based on perovskite semi- conductors has undergone a remarkable development in the last decade, the essential physical mechanisms of this technology cannot yet be fully explained. The electronic- ionic mixed conductivity is one of these properties, which influences the efficiency and especially the stability of the perovskite solar cell. The central topic of this thesis is therefore the investigation of mobile ionic defects and their influence on solar cell parameters. It is shown that the migration rates of ionic defects in perovskites are attributed to wide distributions. By application of a newly developed regularisation algorithm for inverse Laplace transform and different measurement modes for deep-level transient spectroscopy, it can thus be clarified why reported ionic defect parameters from the literature for the same defects can differ significantly. This basic understanding can be used to study the influence of small stoichiometric variations on the defect landscape and to better understand the interaction between electronic and ionic properties. Us- ing the Meyer–Neldel rule also allows the characterisation of ionic defects in perovskite semiconductors. The last part of this thesis shows that electrical and optical methods such as intensity-modulated spectroscopy are suitable for obtaining information about mobile ions in hybrid perovskites. In addition, the electronic recombination behaviour is examined more closely.

Der Schwerpunkt der vorliegenden Arbeit liegt in der Charakterisierung der elektronischen Eigenschaften von hybriden organisch-anorganischen Perowskit (HOIP)-Schichten während der Schichtbildung und in verschiedenen Umgebungen mittels Photoelektronenspektroskopie (PES). Insbesondere wird der Methylammonium-Blei-Iodid-Chlorid-Perowskit (MAPbI3-xClx) untersucht. Als erstes werden Änderungen in den elektronischen Eigenschaften, der Zusammensetzung, sowie der Kristallstruktur mittels PES, Flugzeit-Sekundärionenmassenspektrometrie, sowie Röntgendiffraktometrie mit streifendem Einfall analysiert. Die Resultate weisen auf die entscheidende Rolle von Chlor im texturierten Wachstum der Perowskitschicht hin. Die auskristallisierte Perowskitschicht weist eine stärkere n-Typ Eigenschaft auf, welche auf die Änderung der Zusammensetzung während der Schichtbildung zurückgeführt werden kann. Außerdem beweisen die Ergebnisse eindeutig die Ablagerung von Chlor an der Grenzfläche zwischen der Perowskitschicht und dem Substrat. Zweitens werden die separaten Einflüsse von Wasser, Sauerstoff, und Umgebungsluft auf die elektronischen Eigenschaften von MAPbI3-xClx-Schichtoberflächen untersucht. Bereits geringste Wassermengen ähnlich wie im Hochvakuum oder in inerter Umgebung können eine reversible Reduzierung der Austrittsarbeit hervorrufen. Höherer Wasserdampf-Partialdruck führt zu einer Verschiebung des Valenzbandmaximums (VBM) weit vom Fermi-Niveau, sowie zu einer Reduzierung der Austrittsarbeit. Im Gegensatz dazu führt eine Sauerstoffexposition zu einer Verschiebung des VBM in Richtung des Fermi-Niveaus und zu einer Steigerung der Austrittsarbeit. Analog kommt es zu einer Verschiebung von bis zu 0.6 eV bei einer Exposition gegenüber Umgebungsluft, was den vorwiegenden Einfluss von Sauerstoff demonstriert. Die vorliegenden Untersuchungen betonen den kritischen Einfluss der Schichtbildung, der Zusammensetzung, sowie der Umgebungsbedingungen auf die elektronischen Eigenschaften von HOIP. / The present thesis aims at characterizing the electronic properties of solution-processed hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites (HOIPs) in general, and the HOIP methyl ammonium (MA) lead iodide-chloride (MAPbI3-xClx) films, in particular, at different stages, namely from its formation to its degradation, by means of photoelectron spectroscopy (PES). Firstly, the formation of MAPbI3-xClx films upon thermal annealing is monitored by a combination of PES, time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry, and grazing incidence X-ray diffraction for disclosing changes in electronic properties, film composition, and crystal structure, respectively. Overall, the results point to the essential mediating role of chlorine in the formation of a highly textured perovskite film. The film formation is accompanied by a change of composition which leads to the film becoming more n-type. The accumulation of chlorine at the interface between perovskite and the underlying substrate is also unambiguously revealed. Secondly, the separate effects of water and oxygen on the electronic properties of MAPbI3-xClx film surfaces are investigated by PES. Already low water exposure – as encountered in high vacuum or inert conditions – appears to reversibly impact the work function of the film surfaces. Water vapor in the mbar range induces a shift of the valence band maximum (VBM) away from the Fermi level accompanied by a decrease of the work function. In contrast, oxygen leads to a VBM shift towards the Fermi level and a concomitant increase of the work function. The effect of oxygen is found to predominate in ambient air with an associated shift of the energy levels by up to 0.6 eV. Overall, the findings contribute to an improved understanding of the structure-property relationships of HOIPs and emphasize the impact of least variation in the environmental conditions on the reproducibility of the electronic properties of perovskite materials.

Im Fokus dieser Arbeit stand die Methode Zwillingspolymerisation zur Synthese organisch-anorganischer Hybridmaterialien. Die simultane Zwillingspolymerisation wird als neues Konzept zur gezielten Herstellung homogener, nanostrukturierter Hybridmaterialien unterschiedlicher Zusammensetzung vorgestellt. Hierfür wurden die Zwillingsmonomere 2,2’-Spirobi[4H-1,3,2-benzodioxasilin] und 2,2 Dimethyl-4H-1,3,2-benzodioxasilin in einem Arbeitsschritt gemeinsam polymerisiert. Die erhaltenen Phenolharz-Siliciumdioxid/Dimethylsiloxan-Hybridmaterialien weisen aufgrund einstellbarer Syntheseparameter unterschiedliche Eigenschaftsprofile auf, die systematisch analysiert wurden. Die Charakterisierung der Produkte erfolgte mit Hilfe der Festkörper-NMR-Spektroskopie, Elektronenmikroskopie, DSC, TGA-MS, sowie durch Extraktionsversuche und die Erzeugung und Analyse poröser Materialien. Neben der simultanen Zwillingspolymerisation wird die Synthese, Charakterisierung und thermisch induzierte Polymerisation literaturunbekannter Silicium-Spiroverbindungen mit einfach- oder zweifach substituierter Salicylalkohol-Einheit beschrieben. Hierbei wurden nanostrukturierte Hybridmaterialien mit teils hohem löslichen Anteil erhalten. Die Produktbildung wird in Abhängigkeit von der Entstehung und Weiterreaktion gefundener Chinonmethid-Strukturen diskutiert.

Over the past two decades, organic semiconductors played a growing part as active layers in several electronic systems such as sensors, field‑effect transistors or light emitting diodes to cite a few. In fact, organic materials offer a high versatility and flexibility. However, pure organic systems often lack stability and robustness, which can be overcome by combining them with inorganic scaffolds. In this work, a conducting polymer, polypyrrole (PPy) is employed to create new sensor elements based on the combination of both inorganic and organic layers. Electrical measurements, infrared spectroscopy and current sensing atomic force microscopy provides a better understanding of the polymer behavior upon immersion in aqueous solutions. The observed discharge in water leads to a straightforward application of the device as an in‑flow sensor for several acids like HCl, H2SO4 and H3PO4. The wide range of sensing concentrations as well as the low detection limit place the present detector among the best reported so far in the literature. In a further step to turn towards lab‑in‑a‑tube devices, tubular‑shaped‑integrated microelectrodes are developed by using the rolled‑up technology. As a proof of concept, the successful integration of PPy as an active layer and its use as a gas sensor for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is demonstrated. Finally, by adapting the rolled‑up top electrodes, as developed by Bof Bufon et al. for self‑assembled monolayers (SAMs), thin PPy films (<50 nm) are vertically contacted and their electrical characteristics measured as a function of temperature and electric field. From the transport investigations, it is observed that an insulating‑to‑metallic transition occurs in the polymeric film by increasing the bias voltage. Other molecular layers like CuPc can be incorporated in these platforms, opening the way towards emerging organic devices.

Four molecular germanates based on salicyl alcoholates, bis(dimethylammonium) tris[2-(oxidomethyl)phenolate(2-)]germanate (1), bis(dimethylammonium) tris[4-methyl-2-(oxidomethyl)phenolate(2-)]germanate (2), bis(dimethylammonium) tris[4-bromo-2-(oxidomethyl)phenolate(2-)]germanate (3) and dimethylammonium bis[2-tert-butyl-4-methyl-6-(oxidomethyl)phenolate(2-)][2-tert-butyl-4-methyl-6-(hydroxymethyl)phenolate(1-)]germanate (4), were synthesized and characterized including single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. In the solid state, compounds 1 and 2 exhibit one-dimensional hydrogen bonded networks, whereas compound 4 forms separate ion pairs, which are connected by hydrogen bonds between the dimethylammonium and the germanate moieties. The potential of these compounds for thermally induced twin polymerization (TP) was studied. Germanate 1 was converted by TP to give a hybrid material (HM-1) composed of phenolic resin and germanium dioxide. Subsequent reduction with hydrogen provided a microporous composite containing crystalline germanium and carbon (Ge@C – C-1, germanium content ∼20%). Studies on C-1 as an anode material for Li-ion batteries revealed reversible capacities of ∼370 mA h gGe@C−1 at a current density up to 1384 mA g−1 without apparent fading for 500 cycles. / Dieser Beitrag ist aufgrund einer (DFG-geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.