High-quality CH3NH3PbBr3 films have been made utilizing the PbI2 precursor via a two-step sequential deposition method. The use of the PbI2 precursor has significantly improved the film quality. UV-Vis results show that the PbI2 precursor leads to moderately enhanced absorptions. XRD and SEM characterizations suggest that compact and uniform films with large grain sizes and high crystallinity can be obtained utilizing PbI2. The power conversion efficiency of the FTO/compact-TiO2/MAPbBr(3)/Spiro-OMeTAD/Ag device increased from 5.3% to 7.6% after changing the PbBr2 precursor to PbI2. The reaction between PbI2 and excess MABr generated MAPbBr(3) through halide anion exchange. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.