Nanoscale properties of lead halide perovskites by scanning tunneling microscopy

Abstract Since the introduction of lead halide perovskites, tremendous progress has been made regarding their stability, reproducibility and durability. However, one of the issues that remains is related to the interfacial atomic structure arrangement and structure‐property relationship under optical and electrical stimuli. In this critical review, we highlight the recent progress using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) to understand the nanoscale properties and dynamic processes occurring in these halide perovskite materials. STM is known to be a very challenging technique, which is reflected by the low number of relevant publications in the last years. These initial reports mirror the unique potential of STM to give Ångstrom‐scale insight into the (opto)‐electronic properties, morphology and underlying electronic structure and provide a path toward harnessing the full potential of these materials. However, care must be taken to understand the effects of the perturbations caused by STM and tailor the measurement conditions accordingly.image