The Surface of Hybrid Perovskite Crystals: A Boon or Bane

Hybrid perovskite single crystals have garnered tremendous research attention and are expected to be next-generation materials for high-efficiency photoactive devices. Therefore, it is fundamentally important to understand the relationship between the optoelectronic properties of these materials and the marginally exploited surface chemistry in ambient air. For instance, a strong surface disorder, including hydration and ion migration, can possibly lead to extremely different optical and electronic properties at the surface compared to the bulk of the single crystal (SC). From this perspective, we evaluate the key variables that underlie the perovskite SC surface restructuring in ambient air and discuss their merits and limitations. In addition, a comprehensive picture of surface disordering, the remarkable change in the charge carrier dynamics and carrier mobility, surface hydration, and the effect of ion migration on the surface behavior will be discussed. Finally, surface passivation methods are highlighted to resolve or overcome the challenges for device integration.