Beyond Optoelectronics: Investigating Multiferroicity, Multifunctionality and Bio-functional Properties in Halide Perovskites and Low-Dimensional Hybrid Halides

Shresth Gupta,¹ Sayan Bhattacharyya*¹

¹ Department of Chemical Sciences and Centre for Advanced Functional Materials (CAFM), Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Kolkata, West Bengal - 741246, India

Halide perovskites, once largely confined to photovoltaic research, are rapidly emerging as a versatile class of “unconventional semiconductors” whose soft ionic lattices, dimensional tunability, and rich ferroic responses position them at the intersection of electronics, energy conversion, and biomedicine.^1,2  Moving beyond the traditional solar-cell paradigm, this poster outlines a trajectory toward multifunctional device platforms and biological interfaces, with advanced scanning probe microscopy (SPM), force spectroscopy, and in-situ multimodal characterization as central investigative tools. Using nanoscale mechanical mapping, temperature-dependent Kelvin probe force microscopy, conductive atomic force microscopy, and high-voltage piezoresponse force microscopy, we directly interrogate the multiferroic, electromechanical, and charge-transport behavior of low-dimensional Bi- and Sb-based hybrid iodides.³ Systematic spacer-ion engineering enables controlled structural diversification from one-dimensional to zero-dimensional frameworks, including non-centrosymmetric and second-harmonic-generation-active lattices, which mediate exciton formation, separation, and multimodal migration critical for enhanced photocatalytic amplification and stimulus-responsive functionality.

Correlative SPM-based analysis establishes direct links between nanomechanical properties, excitonic dynamics, and macroscopic device performance, enabling rational design strategies for next-generation X-ray detectors with ultra-low detection limits, high sensitivity across variable radiation intensities, and low-voltage operation. Beyond radiation detection, the coupled interplay of polarization, ionic motion, and lattice compliance extends hybrid halides into piezoelectric, pyroelectric, triboelectric, and thermoelectric energy conversion. Together, these results articulate a paradigm shift from photovoltaics toward halide perovskites as multifunctional semiconductors bridging unconventional device physics, adaptive energy harvesting, and life-science interfaces, positioning hybrid halide materials as foundational platforms for future stimulus-responsive and interdisciplinary technologies.