The crucial role of density functional nonlocality and on-axis CH3NH3 rotation induced I2 formation in hybrid organic-inorganic CH3NH3PbI3 cubic perovskite.

ABSTRACT: Effects of electronic nonlocality in density functional theory study of structural and energetic properties of a pseudocubic CH3NH3PbI3 are investigated by considering coherent rotation around C-N axis of a CH3NH3 cation. A number of truly non-local and semi-local exchange correlation density functionals are examined by comparing calculated structural parameters with experimental results. The vdW-DF-cx which takes into account the non-local van der Waals correlation and consistent exchange shows the best overall performance for density functional theory study of this system. Remarkable distinctions between results from vdW-DF-cx and those from PBEsol exchange correlation functionals are observed and indicate the need of including the non-local interaction in the study of this system, especially its dynamical properties. The obtained rotational barriers are 18.56?meV/formula and 27.71?meV/formula which correspond to rotational frequencies of 3.71?THz and 2.60?THz for vdW-DF-cx and PBEsol calculations, respectively. Interestingly, the maximally localised Wannier function analysis shows the hydrogen bonding assisted covalent character of two iodide anions at a moderate rotational angle which can lead to I2 formation and then material degradation.

SUBMITTER: Klinkla R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6120889 | biostudies-other | 2018 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other