Low‐Energy Electron‐Induced Transformations in Organolead Halide Perovskite

Methylammonium lead iodide perovskite (MAPbI 3 ), a prototype material for potentially high‐efficient and low‐cost organic–inorganic hybrid perovskite solar cells, has been investigated intensively in recent years. A study of low‐energy electron‐induced transformations in MAPbI 3 is presented, performed by combining controlled electron‐impact irradiation with X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Changes were observed in both the elemental composition and the morphology of irradiated MAPbI 3 thin films as a function of the electron fluence for incident energies from 4.5 to 60 eV. The results show that low‐energy electrons can affect structural and chemical properties of MAPbI 3 . It is proposed that the transformations are triggered by the interactions with the organic part of the material (methylammonium), resulting in the MAPbI 3 decomposition and aggregation of the hydrocarbon layer.