CH₃NH₃PbBr₃ is not pyroelectric, excluding ferroelectric-enhanced photovoltaic performance

To experimentally (dis)prove ferroelectric effects on the properties of lead-halide perovskites and of solar cells, based on them, we used second-harmonic-generation spectroscopy and the periodic temperature change (Chynoweth) technique to detect the polar nature of methylammonium lead bromide (MAPbBr₃). We find that MAPbBr₃ is probably centrosymmetric and definitely non-polar; thus, it cannot be ferroelectric. Whenever pyroelectric-like signals were detected, they could be shown to be due to trapped charges, likely at the interface between the metal electrode and the MAPbBr₃ semiconductor. These results indicate that the ferroelectric effects do not affect steady-state performance of MAPbBr₃ solar cells.