Effects of Oxygen Plasma on the Chemical, Light-Emitting, and Electrical-Transport Properties of Inorganic and Hybrid Lead Bromide Perovskite Nanocrystal Films

We show that oxygen plasma affects in different ways the structural, chemical, optical, and electrical properties of methylammonium and cesium lead bromide nanocrystals. Hybrid organic inorganic nanocrystals were severely and quickly degraded by oxygen plasma at 50 W. Their photoluminescence was quenched with almost 100% loss of the initial quantum yield, which is linked to decomposition of the nanocrystals. Inorganic nanocrystals were more resistant to oxygen plasma in the same conditions. Despite a moderate loss of photoluminescence and electrical conductivity, oxygen plasma had a positive impact, removing unbound ligands and resulting in more ohmic behavior of the film. This paves the way for the application of oxygen plasma in the development of perovskite-based optoelectronic devices.