Centimeter-Sized 2D Perovskitoid Single Crystals for Efficient X-ray Photoresponsivity

Metal-halide perovskitoids with corner-, edge-, and face-sharing octahedra provide a fertile “playground” for structure modulation. With low defect density, low ion migration, and high intrinsic stability, two-dimensional (2D) perovskitoid single crystals are expected to be ideal materials for room-temperature semiconductor detectors (RTSDs) as high-energy radiation. However, there is no report yet on the use of 2D perovskitoid single crystals for X-ray detection, as well as on how the halide-modulated molecular assembly would affect their structure and properties. Herein, based on an amidino-based organic spacer, we successfully synthesized a novel family of centimeter-sized 2D perovskitoid single crystals, (3AP)PbX₄ (3AP = 3-amidinopyridine, X = Cl, Br, and I). This is the first time that centimeter-sized 2D perovskitoid single crystals are demonstrated for X-ray photoresponse. Detailed investigations reveal a unique crystal packing with corner-sharing and edge-sharing octahedra of inorganic frameworks and 3AP cations lying between adjacent inorganic layers in a parallel and antisymmetric manner. Changing the halide from I to Br and Cl results in greater Pb-X-Pb angles and stronger hydrogen bonding in perovskitoids and therefore consequently a better elastic recovery under stress, a more efficient charge transport in the inorganic layer, and a lower ionic migration. By varying halide substitution, an efficient X-ray photoresponse is achieved with a sensitivity up to 791.8 μC Gy_air^-1 cm^-2 for (3AP)PbCl₄ and a low detection limit of 1.54 μGy_air s^-1. These results reveal that the large 2D perovskitoid single crystals provide a promising platform for high performance optoelectronics.