Light Bends Perovskite Crystal Lattice, Opening Way to New Devices

UC Davis researchers find halide perovskite crystals can reversibly change shape when exposed to light, enabling new semiconductor applications.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 11:08pm

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Researchers at the University of California, Davis have discovered that halide perovskite crystals can reversibly change their lattice structure when exposed to light, a phenomenon known as photostriction. This unique property of perovskites could enable the development of new types of semiconductor devices that respond to light, such as sensors or actuators. The findings were published in the journal Advanced Materials.

Why it matters

Perovskites are a promising class of semiconductors with distinct properties from traditional materials like silicon and gallium arsenide. Their ability to be tuned and respond to light in a reversible way opens up new possibilities for designing innovative optoelectronic devices that can be controlled by light exposure.

The details

The researchers, led by Professor Marina Leite, shone lasers on perovskite crystals and measured the response of the crystal lattice using X-ray probes. They found that exposing the perovskites to light caused a dramatic and reversible change in the lattice structure, a phenomenon known as photostriction. By adjusting the composition of the perovskite, the researchers can engineer the specific wavelengths of light that trigger the photostriction effect.

  • The study was published on March 3, 2026 in the journal Advanced Materials.

The players

Marina Leite

Professor of materials science engineering at the University of California, Davis and senior author on the study.

Mansha Dubey

A graduate student working with Professor Leite on the research.

Bekir Turedi

A collaborator at ETH Zürich who grew the perovskite crystals used in the study.

Andrii Kanak

A collaborator at ETH Zürich who grew the perovskite crystals used in the study.

Maksym Kovalenko

A professor at ETH Zürich who collaborated on growing the perovskite crystals.

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What they’re saying

“They are 'smart materials' that can be tuned to respond to a stimulus in a way we can control. Their chemistry is very different in a way that can be beneficial for creating devices we couldn't build before.”

— Marina Leite, Professor of materials science engineering

“There is a dramatic change in the lattice when you shine light on it, a unique phenomenon that you don't see with silicon or gallium arsenide.”

— Marina Leite, Professor of materials science engineering

“It's not a binary on/off effect; it can be a scaled response, like a dimmer, depending on the light you shine on it.”

— Marina Leite, Professor of materials science engineering

What’s next

The researchers plan to further explore how the photostriction effect in perovskites can be leveraged to design new types of light-responsive semiconductor devices, such as sensors and actuators.

The takeaway

The discovery of the reversible photostriction effect in perovskite crystals represents a significant breakthrough that could enable the development of innovative optoelectronic devices that can be precisely controlled and tuned by light exposure, opening up new possibilities for semiconductor technology.