Researchers at the University of California, Davis have found that perovskite crystals can quickly and reversibly alter their shape when exposed to light, exhibiting behavior unlike conventional semiconductors.

Published in Advanced Materials, the study highlights the potential of halide perovskites to power a new generation of light-responsive semiconductor devices. Unlike traditional materials such as silicon or gallium arsenide, perovskites can integrate both organic and inorganic elements and are typically more cost-effective to manufacture.

Figure 1. Perovskites Show Tunable Light-Driven Structural Changes

“These materials act as ‘smart systems’ that can be engineered to respond to specific stimuli in controllable ways,” said Marina Leite, a materials science and engineering professor at UC Davis and senior author of the study. “Their unique chemistry opens the door to devices that were previously not possible.” Figure 1 shows Perovskites Show Tunable Light-Driven Structural Changes.

Perovskites all share a common ABX₃ crystal structure, where a central atom is surrounded by six others in an octahedral arrangement within a cube of corner atoms. Thanks to these properties, they are already being investigated for applications in optoelectronics and next-generation solar technologies.

Fast and Reversible Transformations

In the study, graduate student Mansha Dubey used laser light to illuminate perovskite crystals and monitored changes in their atomic structure with an X-ray probe. The crystals, developed by collaborators Bekir Turedi, Andrii Kanak, and Professor Maksym Kovalenko at ETH Zürich, showed that light exposure triggers rapid and fully reversible shifts in the crystal lattice.

Leite explained that this pronounced lattice change is a unique behavior not observed in materials like silicon or gallium arsenide, and importantly, the effect can be repeated many times without degrading the material.

The researchers also found that perovskites’ interaction with light can be tuned by modifying their composition, which alters the bandgap—the range of light wavelengths the material absorbs and emits [1]. Different compositions produce varying structural responses when exposed to light above this bandgap, and the effect can be precisely controlled by adjusting the light’s frequency and intensity.

Rather than a simple on/off response, the effect behaves more like a dimmer, allowing for gradual control. This light-driven structural change could enable the development of new optically controlled devices, such as sensors and actuators.

References:

1. https://scitechdaily.com/scientists-discover-shape-shifting-semiconductors-activated-by-light/

Cite this article:

Janani R (2026), Scientists Uncover Light-Activated Semiconductors Capable of Changing Shape, AnaTechMaz, pp. 374