Decomposition of MAPbBr3 single crystals under electron beam irradiation

Evolution of emission spectra of organic-inorganic hybrid halide perovskite CH3NH3PbBr3 (MAPbBr3) single crystals due to low energy electron beam irradiation (LEEBI) has been studied using the cathodoluminescence (CL) spectroscopy. It is shown that this method can provide valuable information concerning the processes taking place under LEEBI. It is observed that LEEBI produces the essential changes in both the CL integral intensity and spectra. The emission bands, which energy increases with the irradiation dose, were observed that may indicate the formation of intermediate phases with a variable composition. It is shown that the damage rate of CH3NH3PbBr3 due to LEEBI decreases with beam energy increasing, i.e. utilizing larger e-beam energy is preferable to slow down the decomposition process under the crystal characterization. The analyses of the results obtained shows that radiolysis is the most probable mechanism of MAPbBr3 damage by electron beam.