Insight into the Ligand-Mediated Synthesis of Colloidal CsPbBr3 Perovskite Nanocrystals: The Role of Organic Acid, Base, and Cesium Precursors

Metal Halide Perovskite Nanocrystals: Synthesis, Post-Synthesis Modifications, and Their Optical Properties

Metal halide perovskites represent a flourishing area of research, which is driven by both their potential application in photovoltaics and optoelectronics and by the fundamental science behind their unique optoelectronic properties. The emergence of new colloidal methods for the synthesis of halide perovskite nanocrystals, as well as the interesting characteristics of this new type of material, has attracted the attention of many researchers. This review aims to provide an up-to-date survey of this fast-moving field and will mainly focus on the different colloidal synthesis approaches that have been developed. We will examine the chemistry and the capability of different colloidal synthetic routes with regard to controlling the shape, size, and optical properties of the resulting nanocrystals. We will also provide an up-to-date overview of their postsynthesis transformations, and summarize the various solution processes that are aimed at fabricating halide perovskite-based nanocomposites. Furthermore, we will review the fundamental optical properties of halide perovskite nanocrystals by focusing on their linear optical properties, on the effects of quantum confinement, and on the current knowledge of their exciton binding energies. We will also discuss the emergence of nonlinear phenomena such as multiphoton absorption, biexcitons, and carrier multiplication. Finally, we will discuss open questions and possible future directions.

Thermally Stable Copper(II)-Doped Cesium Lead Halide Perovskite Quantum Dots with Strong Blue Emission

All-inorganic perovskite quantum dots (QDs) have emerged as potentially promising materials for lighting and displays, but their poor thermal stability restricts their practical application. In addition, optical characteristics of the blue-emitting CsPbX₃ QDs lag behind their red- and green-emitting counterparts. Herein, we addressed these two issues by doping divalent Cu²⁺ ions into the perovskite lattice to form CsPb_{1- x}Cu _xX₃ QDs. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) measurements reveal that doping smaller Cu²⁺ guest ions induces a lattice contraction and eliminates halide vacancies, which leads to an increased lattice formation energy and improved short-range order of the doped perovskite QDs. This results in the improvement of both the thermal stability and the optical performance of CsPb_{1- x}Cu _x(Br/Cl)₃ QDs, which exhibit bright blue photoluminescence at 450-460 nm, with a high quantum yield of over 80%. The CsPb_{1- x}Cu _xX₃ QD films maintain stable luminescence performance even when annealed at temperatures of over 250 °C.

Ultrasonication-assisted synthesis of CsPbBr3 and Cs4PbBr6 perovskite nanocrystals and their reversible transformation

We demonstrate an ultrasonication-assisted synthesis without polar solvent of CsPbBr3 and Cs4PbBr6 perovskite nanocrystals (PNCs) and their reversible transformation. The as-prepared CsPbBr3 PNCs and Cs4PbBr6 PNCs exhibit different optical properties that depend on their morphology, size, and structure. The photoluminescence (PL) emission and quantum yield (QY) of the CsPbBr3 PNCs can be tuned by changing the ultrasound power, radiation time, and the height of the vibrating spear. The optimized CsPbBr3 PNCs show a good stability and high PL QY of up to 85%. In addition, the phase transformation between CsPbBr3 PNCs and Cs4PbBr6 PNCs can be obtained through varying the amount of oleylamine (OAm) and water. The mechanism of this transformation between the CsPbBr3 PNCs and Cs4PbBr6 PNCs and their morphology change are studied, involving ions equilibrium, anisotropic growth kinetics, and CsBr-stripping process.

High-Performance All-Inorganic CsPbCl3 Perovskite Nanocrystal Photodetectors with Superior Stability

All-inorganic perovskites nanostructures, such as CsPbCl₃ nanocrystals (NCs), are promising in many applications including light-emitting diodes, photovoltaics, and photodetectors. Despite the impressive performance that was demonstrated, a critical issue remains due to the instability of the perovskites in ambient. Herein, we report a method of passivating crystalline CsPbCl₃ NC surfaces with 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA), and superior ambient stability is achieved. The printing of these colloidal NCs on the channel of graphene field-effect transistors (GFETs) on solid Si/SiO₂ and flexible polyethylene terephthalate substrates was carried out to obtain CsPbCl₃ NCs/GFET heterojunction photodetectors for flexible and visible-blind ultraviolet detection at wavelength below 400 nm. Besides ambient stability, the additional benefits of passivating surface charge trapping by the defects on CsPbCl₃ NCs and facilitating high-efficiency charge transfer between the CsPbCl₃ NCs and graphene were provided by MPA. Extraordinary optoelectronic performance was obtained on the CsPbCl₃ NCs/graphene devices including a high ultraviolet responsivity exceeding 10⁶ A/W, a high detectivity of 2 × 10¹³ Jones, a fast photoresponse time of 0.3 s, and ambient stability with less than 10% degradation of photoresponse after 2400 h. This result demonstrates the crucial importance of the perovskite NC surface passivation not only to the performance but also to the stability of the perovskite optoelectronic devices.

Highly Efficient Zn-Cu-In-Se Quantum Dot-Sensitized Solar Cells through Surface Capping with Ascorbic Acid

The balance between band structure, composition, and defect is essential for improving the optoelectronic properties of ternary and quaternary quantum dots and the corresponding photovoltaic performance. In this work, ascorbic acid (AA) as capping ligand is introduced into the reaction system to prepare green Zn-Cu-In-Se (ZCISe) quantum dots. Results show that the addition of AA can increase the Zn content while decrease the In content, resulting in enlarged band gap, high conduction band energy level, and suppressed charge recombination. When AA/Cu ratio is 1, the quantum dots possess the largest band gap of 1.49 eV and the assembled quantum dot-sensitized solar cells exhibit superior photovoltaic performance with ∼17% increment mainly contributed by the dramatically increased current density. The new record efficiencies of 10.44 and 13.85% are obtained from the ZCISe cells assembled with brass and titanium mesh-based counter electrodes, respectively.

Tunable dual emission in Mn2+-doped CsPbX3 (X = Cl, Br) quantum dots for high efficiency white light-emitting diodes

Doping of Mn²⁺ into semiconductor nanocrystals has been demonstrated to endow them with novel electronic, optical and magnetic functionalities. In this paper, Mn-doped CsPbX₃ (X = Br, Cl) quantum dots (QDs) were synthesized at room temperature via a facile strategy by introducing dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)-MnBr₂/PbX₂ composite as a precursor. The excitonic emission spectra of the as-obtained Mn-doped CsPbX₃ QDs can be tuned from 517 nm to 418 nm by adjusting the ratio of PbBr₂/PbCl₂ precisely, and the luminescence mechanism of the doped QDs is discussed in detail. Moreover, the highest photoluminescence quantum yield of the Mn²⁺ emission achieves 36.7%, which is comparable with QDs prepared by the conventional hot-injection method. Depending on the ratios of PbPb₂/PbCl₂, the energy transfer rate from the band-edge to Mn²⁺ excited state is in the range of 0.006-20.42 × 10⁷ s^-1. Furthermore, white light-emitting diodes (LEDs) were successfully fabricated by combining the as-prepared Mn-doped CsPbX₃ QDs with commercial UV GaN chips, and the high luminous efficiency of the as-prepared white LEDs was developed to 55.9 lm W^-1. This work strongly supports the fact that Mn-doped CsPbX₃ QDs are promising materials for application in lighting and displaying fields.

The photoluminescence mechanism of CsPb2Br5 microplates revealed by spatially resolved single particle spectroscopy

CsPb2Br5 is a new member of the all-inorganic lead halide perovskite family with unique structures and optoelectronic properties for various applications. As an indirect band gap semiconductor, the photoluminescence (PL) mechanism of CsPb2Br5 is still under debate. To resolve this issue, CsPb2Br5 microplates with strong green PL have been prepared by a hot-injection method. Characterization by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) absorption spectroscopy indicates the existence of a small amount of embedded CsPbBr3 phase. The removal of the embedded CsPbBr3 phase by treatment with water containing ethanol solvent resulted in complete PL quenching, suggesting the origin of PL due to the embedded CsPbBr3 phase. Spatially resolved PL and time-resolved PL mapping have been further employed to directly visualize the spatial distribution of different emission centers. Our single particle spectroscopic studies indicated the existence of three different emission centers with different PL lifetimes: two types of embedded CsPbBr3 phases (clumped and randomly distributed CsPbBr3 nanocrystals) and intrinsic defects of CsPb2Br5. The embedded CsPbBr3 phases with fast and intermediate PL lifetimes are the primary contributors to PL of the CsPb2Br5 microplates while their intrinsic defects with slow PL lifetimes make only a minor contribution. These studies have unambiguously clarified the PL mechanisms of the CsPb2Br5 microplates and provided the direct mapping of different emission centers, which resolve the contradictory explanation and debate about the PL mechanism of the CsPb2Br5 microplates.

Observation and implication of halide exchange beyond CsPbX3 perovskite nanocrystals

Anion exchange between pre-synthesized all-inorganic nanocrystals with a perovskite structure is a promising approach to tune their chemical composition and optical properties. Herein we have reported the first study of internanocrystal anion exchange reactionsin the cesium lead halide family, including CsPbX3, Cs4PbX6 and CsX, and we found that the anion exchange dynamics is highly dependent on their crystalline phase. In stark contrast to the fast rate in CsPbX3, cesium based non-perovskite NCs display much slower halide mobility. The reaction time is increased to several hours in Cs4PbX6 and days in CsX, respectively. Furthermore, we confirm that mixing these NCs with the same halide but different structures will induce halide diffusion from Cs4PbX6 NCs and CsX NCs to CsPbX3 NCs. This feature can be explored to utilize the Cs4PbX6 NCs and CsX NCs as a halide source to improve the photoluminescence efficiency and colloidal stability of CsPbX3 NCs.

Blue perovskite light-emitting diodes: progress, challenges and future directions

Metal halide perovskites have excellent optical and electrical properties and can be easily processed via low-cost solution-based techniques like blade-coating and inkjet printing, promising a bright future for various optoelectronic applications. Recently, encouraging progress has been made in perovskite light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs). Green, red, and near-infrared PeLEDs have achieved high external quantum efficiencies of more than 20%. However, as historically blue electroluminescence remains challenging in all previous LED technologies, we are witnessing a similar case with the development of blue PeLEDs, an essential part of displays and solid-state lighting, which lag far behind those of their counterparts. Herein, we review the recent progress of blue PeLEDs and discuss the main challenges including colour instability, poor photoluminescence efficiency and emission quenching by interlayers. Future directions are provided to facilitate the development of efficient blue PeLEDs.

Flexible Polymer-Assisted Mesoscale Self-Assembly of Colloidal CsPbBr3 Perovskite Nanocrystals into Higher Order Superstructures with Strong Inter-Nanocrystal Electronic Coupling

Surface-passivating ligands, although ubiquitous to colloidal nanocrystal (NC) syntheses, play a role in assembling NCs into higher order structures and hierarchical superstructures, which has not been demonstrated yet for colloidal CsPbX₃ (X = Cl, Br, and I) NCs. In this work, we report that functional poly(ethylene glycols) (PEG₆-Y, Y = -COOH and -NH₂) represent unique surface-passivating ligands enabling the synthesis of near-uniform CsPbBr₃ NCs with diameters of 3.0 nm. The synthesized NCs are assembled into individual pearl necklaces, bundled pearl necklaces, lamellar, and nanorice superstructures, in situ. It is believed a variety of forces, including van der Waals attractions between hydrophilic PEG tails in a nonpolar solvent and dipole-dipole attraction between NCs, drive mesoscale assembly to form superstructures. Furthermore, postsynthetic ligand treatment strengthens the argument for polymer-assisted mesoscale assembly as pearl necklace assemblies can be successfully converted into either lamellar or nanorice structures. We observe an ∼240 meV bathochromic shift in the lowest energy absorption peak of CsPbBr₃ NCs when they are present in the lamellar and nanorice assemblies, representing strong inter-NC electronic coupling. Moreover, pearl necklace structures are spontaneously assembled into micrometer length scale twisted ribbon hierarchical superstructures during storage of colloidal CsPbBr₃ NCs. The results show that the self-assembled superstructures of CsPbBr₃ NCs are now feasible to prepare via template-free synthesis, as self-assembled structures emerge in the bulk solvent, a process that mimics biological systems except for the use of nonbiological surface ligands (PEG₆-Y). Taken together, emergent optoelectronic properties and higher order superstructures of CsPbBr₃ NCs should aid their potential use in solid-state devices and simplify scalable manufacturing.

Exploring the surface chemistry of cesium lead halide perovskite nanocrystals

Colloidal nanocrystals (NCs) of cesium lead halide perovskites (CsPbX3, X = Cl, Br or I) are emerging as an exciting class of optoelectronic materials, but the retention of their colloidal and structural integrity during isolation, purification and handling still represents a critical issue. The impelling questions concerning their intrinsic chemical instability are connected to the dynamic nature of the bonding between the inorganic surface and the long-chain capping ligands. However, the key aspects of CsPbX3's surface chemistry that directly impact their stability remain elusive. In this contribution, we provide an in-depth investigation of the surface properties of differently composed CsPbX3 NCs, prepared by traditional hot-injection methods. The study, mainly relying on solution NMR spectroscopy, is backed up by elemental analysis as well as morphological, structural and optical investigations. We ascertained that the nature of the ligand adsorption/desorption processes at the NC surface is dependent on its elemental composition, thus explaining the origin of the instability afflicting CsPbI3 NCs. We also evaluated the effect of NC purification as well as of the degradation pathways involving the organic shell on the surface chemistry of CsPbX3 NCs. This study paves the way for new post-functionalization strategies for this promising class of nanomaterials.

Incorporation of rubidium cations into blue perovskite quantum dot light-emitting diodes via FABr-modified multi-cation hot-injection method

Solution-processed lead halide perovskite quantum dots (QDs) are emerging as one of the most promising candidates for emissive display application. Although perovskite QDs with a full spectrum of visible light emissions have been realized for years, realizing the efficient electroluminescence of blue perovskites at room temperature still faces severe challenges. Herein, we demonstrate both the efficient photoluminescence and electroluminescence of the blue perovskite QDs via a simple FABr-modified multi-cation hot-injection (FMMHI) method. The FMMHI method is unique in both the addition of FABr into the PbBr2 precursor solution and the incorporation of small rubidium (Rb+) into the blue perovskite QDs light-emitting diodes (QLEDs). The addition of FABr into the precursor solution can realize strong quantum confinement effect, large exciton binding energy and high-quality perovskite QD films. Besides, the bandgap can be enlarged by the Rb+-induced perovskite octahedral distortion and strong quantum confinement effect. Excellent PLQYs of 64.5% and 49.8% were achieved for the developed greenish-blue QDs (Rb0.33Cs0.67)0.42FA0.58PbBr3 and deep-blue QDs (Rb0.33Cs0.67)0.42FA0.58PbCl1.25Br1.75 in solid film state. Moreover, maximum external quantum efficiencies (EQEs) of 3.6% and 0.61% were also achieved with an electroluminescence peak wavelength at 502 and 466 nm, respectively, indicating that the perovskite QDs incorporated with Rb+ possess great potential for the development of high-performance blue perovskite electroluminescence diodes.

Cs4PbBr6/CsPbBr3 perovskite composites for WLEDs: pure white, high luminous efficiency and tunable color temperature

Cs₄PbBr₆/CsPbBr₃ perovskite composites are fabricated by room-temperature one-pot mixing synthesis, which is short in time, free from inert gases and delivers a high product yield. Temperature-dependent photoluminescence shows that a larger exciton binding energy of 291.1 meV exhibits better thermal stability compared with that of pure Cs₄PbBr₆ and CsPbBr₃ materials. The CIE chromaticity coordinates (0.1380, 0.7236) of green LEDs designed with Cs₄PbBr₆/CsPbBr₃ perovskite composites show almost no variation under driving current changing from 5 to 30 mA. Furthermore, the ground Cs₄PbBr₆/CsPbBr₃ perovskite composites mixed with red emitting K₂SiF₆:Mn⁴⁺ phosphor are dropped and casted on a blue-emitting InGaN chip. The white light emitting diodes (WLEDs) are presented, which have good luminous efficiency of 65.33 lm W⁻¹ at 20 mA, a correlated color temperature of 5190 K, and the white gamut with chromaticity coordinate of (0.3392, 0.3336). According to the state of art, these excellent characteristics observed are much superior to the reported results of conventional perovskite-based WLEDs, which demonstrate the immense potential and great prospect of Cs₄PbBr₆/CsPbBr₃ perovskite composites to replace conventional phosphors in lighting devices.

WLED devices are designed with high luminous efficiency of 65.33 lm W⁻¹ and excellent CIE chromaticity coordinates of (0.3392, 0.3336). The properties of material and the luminous performance of device are calculated and discussed comprehensively.

Controllable synthesis of CsPbI3 nanorods with tunable photoluminescence emission

So far the controllable synthesis of one-dimensional (1D) CsPbI₃ nanocrystals still remains a challenge due to the fast reaction kinetics of the iodine system as compared with other halide perovskites. Here we report the direct synthesis of high-quality 1D CsPbI₃ nanorods by a facile solvothermal method. The as-prepared CsPbI₃ nanorods show high purity and uniform morphology with ultrafine diameters down to ∼5 nm. By simply changing the solvothermal reaction conditions, fine-tuning of the sizes of the CsPbI₃ nanorods can be well achieved, which leads to the successful modulation of their photoluminescence (PL) emission. The solvothermal reaction offers relatively low crystal growth rate, which is of great importance for the size control of the CsPbI₃ nanocrystals. PL quantum yields (PLQYs) and lifetime results indicate that the obtained nanorods maintain a good surface state over long reaction time. Our work not only provides a reliable means for the synthesis of 1D iodine-related perovskites, but also expands the study of size-related PL properties on perovskites nanocrystals.

Ultrafine CsPbI₃ nanorods with tunable narrow photoluminescence emission are directly synthesized by solvothermal method.

Synthesis of a silica coated fully-inorganic perovskite with enhanced moisture stability

Synthesis of silica coated perovskite using (3-minopropyl)trimethoxysilane (APTMS) instead of oleylamine efficiently improved the stability. Luminescence properties and stability was characterized.

Solvent-Assisted Tuning of the Size and Shape of CsPbBr3 Nanocrystals via Redispersion Process at Ambient Condition

All-inorganic CsPbBr₃ perovskite nanocrystals are emerging as a new class of semiconductors with outstanding optoelectronic properties and great potential for various applications, such as, lasing, photon detection, photovoltaics, etc. This article provides the effect of solvents on the reprecipitation of CsPbBr₃ perovskite at room temperature. The results observed for CsPbBr₃ perovskite in various antisolvents showed various cubes (nano- to microsized), self-assembly of nanocubes and nanorods. In addition, all of the various sizes (nano to micro) of cubes and self-assembly of nanocubes and shape-controlled nanorods exhibited band gap tuning at the green light region. The corresponding microscopy (field emission scanning electron microscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy) images and photoluminescence quantum yield as well as lifetime decay are presented. To the best of our literature knowledge, this is the first report on various solvent-assisted studies on CsPbBr₃ perovskite nanocrystals.

Shape-Pure, Nearly Monodispersed CsPbBr3 Nanocubes Prepared Using Secondary Aliphatic Amines

Fully inorganic cesium lead halide perovskite (CsPbX₃) nanocrystals (NCs) have been extensively studied due to their excellent optical properties, especially their high photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) and the ease with which the PL can be tuned across the visible spectrum. So far, most strategies for synthesizing CsPbX₃ NCs are highly sensitive to the processing conditions and ligand combinations. For example, in the synthesis of nanocubes of different sizes, it is not uncommon to have samples that contain various other shapes, such as nanoplatelets and nanosheets. Here, we report a new colloidal synthesis method for preparing shape-pure and nearly monodispersed CsPbBr₃ nanocubes using secondary amines. Regardless of the length of the alkyl chains, the oleic acid concentration, and the reaction temperature, only cube-shaped NCs were obtained. The shape purity and narrow size distribution of the nanocubes are evident from their sharp excitonic features and their ease of self-assembly in superlattices, reaching lateral dimensions of up to 50 μm. We attribute this excellent shape and phase purity to the inability of secondary amines to find the right steric conditions at the surface of the NCs, which consequently limits the formation of low-dimensional structures. Furthermore, no contamination from other phases was observed, not even from Cs₄PbBr₆, presumably due to the poor ability of secondary aliphatic amines to coordinate to PbBr₂ and, hence, to provide a reaction environment that is depleted in Pb.

Blue-Emitting CsPbCl3 Nanocrystals: Impact of Surface Passivation for Unprecedented Enhancement and Loss of Optical Emission

High-energy-emitting CsPbCl₃ nanocrystals have shown significant loss and enhancement of their emission intensity (∼40-50 folds) during purification and surface treatments, respectively. This confirms that the surfaces of these nanocrystals are very sensitive. In this Letter, physical insights of the interface bindings on the surface of these blue-emitting CsPbCl₃ nanocrystals with different passivating agents and their consequential impact on purification are investigated. Using various metal chlorides irrespective of the charge and size of the metal ions, metal acetates, and nonmetal chloride, the predominant influence of chloride ions in helping retrieve/intensify the blue emission is established. The purification processes are observed to be very delicate, and successive purifications with introduction of polar nonsolvents led to the transformation of an emitting cubic CsPbCl₃ phase to nonemitting tetragonal CsPb₂Cl₅ phase nanocrystals irreversibly. The impact of various salt additions only temporarily helped in enhancing the emission, but the phase change remained inevitable upon successive purification. However, as a remedy, by in situ use of alkylammonium chloride salt in high-temperature reactions, the surface binding was improved, and significant emission as well as the phase could be retained with successive purifications.

Self-Assembly of Perovskite Crystals Anchored Al2 O3 -La2 O3 Nanofibrous Membranes with Robust Flexibility and Luminescence

Inorganic luminescent materials as one of the important high-performance materials are widely used for industry and scientific research, mainly owing to their outstanding luminescence properties. However, inorganic luminescent materials are typically brittle and inelastic, which greatly limit their use in practical applications, particularly in flexible optoelectronic devices. In this work, it is shown that "plum-pudding" like CsPbBr₃ /Cs₄ PbBr₆ perovskite crystals anchor onto Al₂ O₃ -La₂ O₃ (CCAL) nanofibrous membranes, which are synthesized via a facile electrospinning and subsequent supersaturated recrystallization process. The as-synthesized CCAL membranes exhibit outstanding mechanical flexibility and luminescence properties. Meanwhile, the crystal structure and luminous performance of the CCAL membranes are regulated by different molar ratios of CsBr/PbBr₂ . The photoluminescence reaches a maximum value for the CCAL membranes produced with a CsBr/PbBr₂ ratio of 1, and shows a narrow emission line-width of 18 nm. Furthermore, the potential applications of the CCAL nanofibrous membranes in green light devices through a remote nanofibrous membranes packaging approach are demonstrated. A pure green emission is achieved with the Commission Internationale de L'Eclairage color coordinates of (0.28, 0.65). This facile strategy would open a new avenue to flexible inorganic luminescent materials for the lighting and backlight display industries.

Halide exchange and surface modification of metal halide perovskite nanocrystals with alkyltrichlorosilanes

Metal halide perovskite nanocrystals have recently emerged as promising materials for light emitting displays and lasing applications due to their narrow emission wavelengths, high photoluminescence quantum yields, and readily adjustable emission wavelengths. For these metal halide perovskite nanocrystals to be useful in commercial applications, their stability must be increased and the photoluminescence quantum yields of the iodide (red emitting) and chloride (blue emitting) containing derivatives must also be increased. The photoluminescence quantum yields of blue emitting CsPbCl3 nanoparticles lag behind those of green emitting CsPbBr3 nanoparticles, with maximum photoluminescence quantum yields of 1-10% previously reported for CsPbCl3 as compared to 80-100% for CsPbBr3. Herein, we show that alkyltrichlorosilanes (R-SiCl3) can be used as Cl-sources for rapid anion exchange with host CsPbBr3 nanocrystals. This anion exchange reaction is advantageous in that it can be performed at room temperature and results in highly dispersible nanoparticles coated with siloxane shells. CsPbCl3 nanoparticles produced through Cl-exchange with R-SiCl3 show significantly improved long-term stability and high photoluminescence quantum yields of up to 12%. These siloxane coated nanocrystals are even stable in the presence of water, whereas CsPbCl3 nanoparticles synthesized through other routes rapidly degrade in the presence of water.

Quantifying the Thermodynamics of Ligand Binding to CsPbBr3 Quantum Dots

Cesium lead halide perovskites are an emerging class of quantum dots (QDs) that have shown promise in a variety of applications; however, their properties are highly dependent on their surface chemistry. To this point, the thermodynamics of ligand binding remain unstudied. Herein, 1 H NMR methods were used to quantify the thermodynamics of ligand exchange on CsPbBr3 QDs. Both oleic acid and oleylamine native ligands dynamically interact with the CsPbBr3 QD surface, having individual surface densities of 1.2-1.7 nm-2 . 10-Undecenoic acid undergoes an exergonic exchange equilibrium with bound oleate (Keq =1.97) at 25 °C while 10-undecenylphosphonic acid undergoes irreversible ligand exchange. Undec-10-en-1-amine exergonically exchanges with oleylamine (Keq =2.52) at 25 °C. Exchange occurs with carboxylic acids, phosphonic acids, and amines on CsPbBr3 QDs without etching of the nanocrystal surface; increases in the steady-state PL intensities correlate with more strongly bound conjugate base ligands.

Metal Halide Perovskites: Synthesis, Ion Migration, and Application in Field-Effect Transistors

The past several years have witnessed tremendous developments of metal halide perovskite (MHP)-based optoelectronics. Particularly, the intensive research of MHP-based light-emitting diodes, photodetectors, and solar cells could probably reform the optoelectronic semiconductor industry. In comparison, in spite of the large intrinsic charge carrier mobility of MHPs, the development of MHP-based field-effect transistors (MHP-FETs) is relatively slow, which is essentially due to the gate-field screening effect induced by the ion migration and accumulation in MHP-FETs. This work mainly aims to summarize the recent important work on MHP-FETs and propose solutions in terms of the development bottleneck of perovskite-based transistors, in an attempt to boost the research of MHP transistors further. First, the advantages and potential applications of MHP-FETs are briefly introduced, which is followed by a detailed description of the MHP crystalline structure and various material fabrication techniques. Afterward, MHP-FETs are discussed, including transistors based on hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites, all-inorganic perovskites, and lead-free perovskites.

Polar Solvent Induced Lattice Distortion of Cubic CsPbI3 Nanocubes and Hierarchical Self-Assembly into Orthorhombic Single-Crystalline Nanowires

Despite the recent surge of interest in inorganic lead halide perovskite nanocrystals, there are still significant gaps in their stability disturbance and the understanding of their destabilization, assembly, and growth processes. Here, we discover that polar solvent molecules can induce the lattice distortion of ligand-stabilized cubic CsPbI₃, leading to the phase transition into orthorhombic phase, which is unfavorable for photovoltaic applications. Such lattice distortion triggers the dipole moment on CsPbI₃ nanocubes, which subsequently initiates the hierarchical self-assembly of CsPbI₃ nanocubes into single-crystalline nanowires. The systematic investigations and in situ monitoring on the kinetics of the self-assembly process disclose that the more amount or the stronger polarity of solvent can induce the more rapid self-assembly and phase transition. These results not only elucidate the destabilization mechanism of cubic CsPbI₃ nanocrystals, but also open up opportunities to synthesize and store cubic CsPbI₃ for their practical applications in photovoltaics and optoelectronics.

One-Pot Synthesis of Highly Stable CsPbBr3@SiO2 Core-Shell Nanoparticles

The practical applications of CsPbX₃ nanocrystals (NCs) have been limited by their poor stability. Although much effort has been devoted to making core-shell nanostructures to enhance the stability of CsPbX₃ NCs, it is still very difficult to coat CsPbX₃ NCs with another material on a single-particle level. In this work, we report a facile one-pot approach to synthesize CsPbBr₃@SiO₂ core-shell nanoparticles (NPs), in which each core-shell NP has only one CsPbBr₃ NC. The formation process has been carefully monitored. It has been found that the formation rates, determined by reaction temperature, precursor species, pH value, etc., of both CsPbBr₃ and SiO₂ are critical for the successful preparation of core-shell NPs. Thanks to the protection of SiO₂ shell, the product shows much higher long-term stability in humid air and enhanced stability against ultrasonication treatment in water than that of naked CsPbBr₃ NCs. This work not only provides a robust method for the preparation of core-shell nanostructures but also sheds some light on the stabilization and applications of CsPbX₃ NCs.

Boosting Tunable Blue Luminescence of Halide Perovskite Nanoplatelets through Postsynthetic Surface Trap Repair

The easily tunable emission of halide perovskite nanocrystals throughout the visible spectrum makes them an extremely promising material for light-emitting applications. Whereas high quantum yields and long-term colloidal stability have already been achieved for nanocrystals emitting in the red and green spectral range, the blue region currently lags behind with low quantum yields, broad emission profiles, and insufficient colloidal stability. In this work, we present a facile synthetic approach for obtaining two-dimensional CsPbBr₃ nanoplatelets with monolayer-precise control over their thickness, resulting in sharp photoluminescence and electroluminescence peaks with a tunable emission wavelength between 432 and 497 nm due to quantum confinement. Subsequent addition of a PbBr₂-ligand solution repairs surface defects likely stemming from bromide and lead vacancies in a subensemble of weakly emissive nanoplatelets. The overall photoluminescence quantum yield of the blue-emissive colloidal dispersions is consequently enhanced up to a value of 73 ± 2%. Transient optical spectroscopy measurements focusing on the excitonic resonances further confirm the proposed repair process. Additionally, the high stability of these nanoplatelets in films and to prolonged ultraviolet light exposure is shown.

Emergence of Nanoplatelet Light-Emitting Diodes

Since 2014, nanoplatelet light-emitting diodes (NPL-LEDs) have been emerged as a new kind of LEDs. At first, NPL-LEDs are mainly realized by CdSe based NPLs. Since 2016, hybrid organic-inorganic perovskite NPLs are found to be effective to develop NPL-LEDs. In 2017, all-inorganic perovskite NPLs are also demonstrated for NPL-LEDs. Therefore, the development of NPL-LEDs is flourishing. In this review, the fundamental concepts of NPL-LEDs are first introduced, then the main approaches to realize NPL-LEDs are summarized and the recent progress of representative NPL-LEDs is highlighted, finally the challenges and opportunities for NPL-LEDs are presented.

High stability luminophores: fluorescent CsPbX3 (X = Cl, Br and I) nanofiber prepared by one-step electrospinning method

The novel fluorescent nanofiber membranes of CsPbX₃ (FNMs/CPX, X = Cl, Br, I) with a wide photoluminescence range from 405 nm to 675 nm are fabricated by a one-step electrospinning method in this paper. Owing to the polymer cladding, these FNMs/CPX show much better thermal and humid stability compared to the common CsPbX₃ particles, and the corresponding white light-emitting diode prepared by them also exhibits excellent optical properties. Without adopting any complicated processes, this method opens up a brand new way for the perovskite materials using in lighting and display fields.

Emission Recovery and Stability Enhancement of Inorganic Perovskite Quantum Dots

Inorganic lead halide perovskite quantum dots (PQDs), especially red emission PQDs, are well-known to easily lose their luminescence emission with time, which shows from strong emission of fresh PQDs to no emission of aged PQDs. Here, we demonstrate that trioctylphosphine (TOP) can effectively and instantly recover the luminescence emission of aged red PQDs, making the "dead" PQDs "reborn". Furthermore, TOP also works to improve the emission intensity of freshly synthesized PQDs. In this process, TOP does not make any detectable structural changes to PQDs. Besides, TOP can effectively enhance the stability of PQDs against long-term storage, temperature, UV irradiation, and polar solvents. This unusual emission recovery and stability enhancement by TOP shall promote the understanding of particle surface conditions and the development of PQD devices.

Purification of Perovskite Quantum Dots Using Low-Dielectric-Constant Washing Solvent "Diglyme" for Highly Efficient Light-Emitting Devices

Cesium lead halide (CsPbX₃, X = Cl, Br, or I) perovskite quantum dots (QDs) are known as ionic nanocrystals, and their optical properties are greatly affected by the washing solvent used during the purification process. Here, we demonstrate the purification process of CsPbBr₃ perovskite QDs using low-dielectric-constant solvents to completely remove impurities, such as the reaction solvent and desorbed ligands. The use of the ether solvent diethylene glycol dimethyl ether (diglyme), having a low dielectric constant of ε = 7.23, as a poor solvent for reprecipitation allowed for multiple wash cycles, which led to high purity and high photoluminescence quantum yield for CsPbBr₃ QDs. The light-emitting device constructed with the CsPbBr₃ QDs and washed twice with diglyme (two-wash) showed a low turn-on voltage of 2.7 V and a peak external quantum efficiency of over 8%. Thus, the purification of perovskite QDs with multiple wash cycles using a low-dielectric-constant solvent is an effective approach for enhancing not only the optical properties but also the efficiency of perovskite quantum dot light-emitting devices.

Organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite quantum dots with high PLQY and enhanced carrier mobility through crystallinity control by solvent engineering and solid-state ligand exchange

The photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) and charge carrier mobility of organic-inorganic perovskite QDs were enhanced by the optimization of crystallinity and surface passivation as well as solid-state ligand exchange. The crystallinity of perovskite QDs was determined by the Effective solvent field (Esol) of various solvents for precipitation. The solvent with high Esol could more quickly countervail the localized field generated by the polar solvent, and it causes fast crystallization of the dissolved precursor, which results in poor crystallinity. The post-ligand adding process (PLAP) and post-ligand exchange process (PLEP) increase the PLQY of perovskite QDs by reducing non-radiative recombination and the density of surface defect states through surface passivation. Particularly, the post ligand exchange process (PLEP) in the solid-state improved the charge carrier mobility of perovskite QDs in addition to the PLQY enhancement. The ligand exchange with short alkyl chain length ligands could improve the packing density of perovskite QDs in films by reducing the inter-particle distance between perovskite QDs. The maximum hole mobility of 6.2 × 10-3 cm2 V-1 s-1, one order higher than that of pristine QDs without the PLEP, is obtained at perovskite QDs with hexyl ligands. By using PLEP treatment, compared to the pristine device, a 2.5 times higher current efficiency in perovskite QD-LEDs was achieved due to the improved charge carrier mobility and PLQY.

Colloidal Synthesis of CsX Nanocrystals (X = Cl, Br, I)

A facile colloidal synthesis of highly ionic cesium halide nanocrystals is reported. Colloidal nanocrystals of CsI, CsCl and CsBr with unprecedentedly small dimensions are obtained using oleylammonium halides and cesium oleate as precursors. The ease and adaptability of our method enables its universalization for the formation of other highly ionic nanocrystals.

Tunable morphologies, multicolor properties and applications of RE3+ doped NaY(MoO4)2 nanocrystals via a facile ligand-assisted reprecipitation process

Rare earth (RE3+)-doped NaY(MoO4)2 nanocrystals are efficient materials for realizing multicolor emission, which plays an important role in displays, W-LEDs, solar cells and biolabeling. Up to now, research on the multicolor tuning properties of RE3+-doped NaY(MoO4)2 nanoparticles has mostly focused on traditional preparation routes such as the hydrothermal method and sol-gel process. However, the products obtained using these methods are usually large in size (on the micron/submicron scale) and agglomeration problems are inevitable. With the development of nano optoelectronic devices and bioluminescence labeling, there is an urgent need to find an efficient method to prepare nanoscale, monodispersed and NaY(MoO4)2:RE3+ nanocrystals (NCs) with good crystallinity and stronger emission properties. In this work, we demonstrate a simple, fast, reproducible and one-step synthesis of NaY(MoO4)2:Eu3+ NCs with sizes varying from 1-20 nm via a ligand-assisted reprecipitation strategy. The reaction mechanism and emission intensities of NaY(MoO4)2:Eu3+ NCs with various morphologies have been discussed in detail. Furthermore, Tb3+ and Eu3+ ion co-doped NaY(MoO4)2 NCs were also prepared, and various emission colors were obtained and tuned from red, orange-red, yellow and yellow-green to green. Energy transfer between the Tb3+ and Eu3+ ions in the NaY(MoO4)2 host matrix has also been demonstrated. Finally, a highly efficient and stable NaY(MoO4)2:0.05Tb,0.04Eu NC-based W-LED device was built, which indicates the promising future application for this material in the field of lighting. The tunable multicolour emission, ease of preparation and nanosize reveal that NaY(MoO4)2:RE3+ NCs have a potential application in full color displays and W-LEDs.

Influence of Eu-substitution on luminescent CH3NH3PbBr3 quantum dots

We report a series of Eu-substituted methylammonium lead tribromide quantum dots (MAPb1-xEuxBr3 QDs). The crystallinity of these QDs increases with increasing Eu content, while there is only a small change in the lattice constant, and the morphology of the MAPb1-xEuxBr3 QDs is unaffected by the Eu content. This demonstrates that Eu is a suitable element for substituting Pb while retaining the original crystal structure. We observe blue photoluminescence (PL) consistent with Eu2+, which, at high Eu content (x = 0.3), contributes luminescence intensity equal to the green PL of unsubstituted MAPbBr3 QDs. As Eu is a less toxic substitute for Pb, that also provides blue luminescence, MAPb1-xEuxBr3 QDs may prove to be a valuable optoelectronic material.

Enhanced luminescence of CsPbBr3 perovskite nanocrystals on stretchable templates with Au/SiO2 plasmonic nanoparticles

We propose stretchable plasmonic templates of Au and Au/SiO₂ nanoparticles (NPs) to improve the luminescence of CsPbBr₃ perovskite nanocrystals (PNCs). These templates are highly flexible and consist of polymer-metal NP composites that facilitate the luminescence enhancement by localized surface plasmons (LSPs) due to coupling with metal NP. This template also prevents the degradation of carrier transport properties for perovskite light-emitting diodes by embedding metal NPs in polymer. The luminescence of PNC film on the template with Au NPs decreases by 21% compared to PNC films on the reference (polymer film without metal NPs), while it increases by 54% for the templates with Au/SiO₂ NPs. The observed effects are explained by the luminescence enhancement due to coupling to LSPs formed by the Au/SiO₂ NPs and by the prevalence of electron tunneling and dumping for Au NPs.

Inter-Conversion between Different Compounds of Ternary Cs-Pb-Br System

The perovskite CsPbBr₃ attracts great attention due to its potential in optoelectronics. However, stability remains a major obstacle to achieving its effecting application. In this work, we prepared CsPbBr₃ solids through a simple reaction and investigated reversible conversion between CsPbBr₃, Cs₄PbBr₆, and CsPb₂Br₅. We found that CsPbBr₃ can be respectively converted to Cs₄PbBr₆ or CsPb₂Br₅ by reacting with CsBr or PbBr₂. Thermodynamic analysis demonstrated that the chemical reactions above were exothermic and occurred spontaneously. Moreover, the formed Cs₄PbBr₆ could be converted to CsPbBr₃ reversely, and then progressively converted to Cs-deficient CsPb₂Br₅ by extraction of CsBr with water. The CsPb₂Br₅ was converted to CsPbBr₃ reversely under thermal annealing at 400 °C. The thermodynamic processes of these conversions between the three compounds above were clarified. Our findings regarding the conversions not only provide a new method for controlled synthesis of the ternary Cs-Pb-Br materials but also clarify the underlying mechanism for the instability of perovskites CsPbBr₃.

Polarized emission from CsPbBr3 nanowire embedded-electrospun PU fibers

Interest in all-inorganic halide perovskites has been increasing dramatically due to their high quantum yield, band gap tunability, and ease of fabrication in compositional and geometric diversity. In this study, we synthesized several hundreds of nanometer long and ∼4 nm thick CsPbBr 3 nanowires (NWs). They were then integrated into electrospun polyurethane (PU) fibers to examine the polarization behavior of the composite fiber assembly. Aligned electrospun fibers containing CsPbBr 3 NWs showed a remarkable increase in the degree of polarization from 0.17-0.30. This combination of NWs and PU fibers provides a promising composite material for various applications such as optoelectronic devices and solar cells.

Strongly Quantum Confined Colloidal Cesium Tin Iodide Perovskite Nanoplates: Lessons for Reducing Defect Density and Improving Stability

Within the last several years, metal halide perovskites such as methylammonium lead iodide, CH₃NH₃PbI₃, have come to the forefront of scientific investigation as defect-tolerant, solution-processable semiconductors that exhibit excellent optoelectronic properties. The vast majority of study has focused on Pb-based perovskites, which have limited applications because of their inherent toxicity. To enable the broad application of these materials, the properties of lead-free halide perovskites must be explored. Here, two-dimensional, lead-free cesium tin iodide, (CsSnI₃), perovskite nanoplates have been synthesized and characterized for the first time. These CsSnI₃ nanoplates exhibit thicknesses of less than 4 nm and exhibit significant quantum confinement with photoluminescence at 1.59 eV compared to 1.3 eV in the bulk. Ab initio calculations employing the generalized gradient approximation of Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof elucidate that although the dominant intrinsic defects in CsSnI₃ do not introduce deep levels inside the band gap, their concentration can be quite high. These simulations also highlight that synthesizing and processing CsSnI₃ in Sn-rich conditions can reduce defect density and increase stability, which matches insights gained experimentally. This improvement in the understanding of CsSnI₃ represents a step toward the broader challenge of building a deeper understanding of Sn-based halide perovskites and developing design principles that will lead to their successful application in optoelectronic devices.

Surface ligand modification of cesium lead bromide nanocrystals for improved light-emitting performance

Cesium lead halide perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) possess excellent optical properties at visible wavelengths with great promise for applications in luminous display fields. We demonstrate a method to modify the surface ligand passivation of perovskite NCs for enhanced colloidal stability and emitting properties by incorporating didodecyl dimethyl ammonium bromide (DDAB). The photoluminescence quantum yield of the NC solution was improved to 96% from 70% and the perovskite film showed fewer trapped sites and enhanced carrier transport ability. The thus fabricated electroluminescent perovskite NC-LEDs exhibited a bright luminance of 11 990 cd m-2, corresponding to 4-times improved external quantum efficiency (EQE), compared to the control device using regular NCs without DDAB.

Role of Acid-Base Equilibria in the Size, Shape, and Phase Control of Cesium Lead Bromide Nanocrystals

A binary ligand system composed of aliphatic carboxylic acids and primary amines of various chain lengths is commonly employed in diverse synthesis methods for CsPbBr₃ nanocrystals (NCs). In this work, we have carried out a systematic study examining how the concentration of ligands (oleylamine and oleic acid) and the resulting acidity (or basicity) affects the hot-injection synthesis of CsPbBr₃ NCs. We devise a general synthesis scheme for cesium lead bromide NCs which allows control over size, size distribution, shape, and phase (CsPbBr₃ or Cs₄PbBr₆) by combining key insights on the acid-base interactions that rule this ligand system. Furthermore, our findings shed light upon the solubility of PbBr₂ in this binary ligand system, and plausible mechanisms are suggested in order to understand the ligand-mediated phase control and structural stability of CsPbBr₃ NCs.

Benzoyl Halides as Alternative Precursors for the Colloidal Synthesis of Lead-Based Halide Perovskite Nanocrystals

We propose here a new colloidal approach for the synthesis of both all-inorganic and hybrid organic-inorganic lead halide perovskite nanocrystals (NCs). The main limitation of the protocols that are currently in use, such as the hot injection and the ligand-assisted reprecipitation routes, is that they employ PbX₂ (X = Cl, Br, or I) salts as both lead and halide precursors. This imposes restrictions on being able to precisely tune the amount of reaction species and, consequently, on being able to regulate the composition of the final NCs. In order to overcome this issue, we show here that benzoyl halides can be efficiently used as halide sources to be injected in a solution of metal cations (mainly in the form of metal carboxylates) for the synthesis of APbX₃ NCs (in which A = Cs⁺, CH₃NH₃⁺, or CH(NH₂)₂⁺). In this way, it is possible to independently tune the amount of both cations and halide precursors in the synthesis. The APbX₃ NCs that were prepared with our protocol show excellent optical properties, such as high photoluminescence quantum yields, low amplified spontaneous emission thresholds, and enhanced stability in air. It is noteworthy that CsPbI₃ NCs, which crystallize in the cubic α phase, are stable in air for weeks without any postsynthesis treatment. The improved properties of our CsPbX₃ perovskite NCs can be ascribed to the formation of lead halide terminated surfaces, in which Cs cations are replaced by alkylammonium ions.

Precursor non-stoichiometry to enable improved CH3NH3PbBr3 nanocrystal LED performance

High photoluminescence quantum yields and narrow emission wavelengths, combined with low temperature solution processing, make CH₃NH₃PbBr₃ nanocrystals (NCs) favorable candidates for light-emitting applications. Herein, we describe the synthesis of CH₃NH₃PbBr₃ NC inks by a convenient room-temperature ligand assisted reprecipitation protocol. We further investigate the effect of modulation of the CH₃NH₃Br : PbBr₂ ratio during NC synthesis on the optical properties, crystallinity, particle size distribution and film formation of the NC ink. Subsequently, we fabricate LEDs using these NCs as the emissive layer and the highest efficiency (1.75% external quantum efficiency) and brightness (>2700 cd m^-2) is achieved for the 1.15 : 1 precursor ratio. It is inferred that the NC surface properties and film coverage are more crucial than the photoluminescence intensity to achieve high device efficiency. Moreover, by separating the NC synthesis and thin film formation processes, we can exert more control during device fabrication, which makes it very promising for scale-up applications.

Benzoyl Halides as Alternative Precursors for the Colloidal Synthesis of Lead-Based Halide Perovskite Nanocrystals

We propose here a new colloidal approach for the synthesis of both all-inorganic and hybrid organic-inorganic lead halide perovskite nanocrystals (NCs). The main limitation of the protocols that are currently in use, such as the hot injection and the ligand-assisted reprecipitation routes, is that they employ PbX2 (X = Cl, Br, or I) salts as both lead and halide precursors. This imposes restrictions on being able to precisely tune the amount of reaction species and, consequently, on being able to regulate the composition of the final NCs. In order to overcome this issue, we show here that benzoyl halides can be efficiently used as halide sources to be injected in a solution of metal cations (mainly in the form of metal carboxylates) for the synthesis of APbX3 NCs (in which A = Cs+, CH3NH3+, or CH(NH2)2+). In this way, it is possible to independently tune the amount of both cations and halide precursors in the synthesis. The APbX3 NCs that were prepared with our protocol show excellent optical properties, such as high photoluminescence quantum yields, low amplified spontaneous emission thresholds, and enhanced stability in air. It is noteworthy that CsPbI3 NCs, which crystallize in the cubic α phase, are stable in air for weeks without any postsynthesis treatment. The improved properties of our CsPbX3 perovskite NCs can be ascribed to the formation of lead halide terminated surfaces, in which Cs cations are replaced by alkylammonium ions.

Controlled synthesis of quantum confined CsPbBr3 perovskite nanocrystals under ambient conditions

Room temperature recrystallization is a simple and convenient method for synthesis of all-inorganic perovskite nanomaterials with excellent luminescent properties. However, the fast crystallization usually brings the colloidal stability and uncontrollable synthesis issues in the formation of all-inorganic perovskite. In the present study, we present a new strategy to prepare the quantum confined CsPbBr3 nanocrystals with controlled morphology under ambient condition. With the assist of fatty acid-capped precursor, the crystallization and the following growth rate can be retarded. Thanks to the retarded reaction, the morphology can be varied from nanowires to nanoplates and the thickness can be controlled from 5-7 monolayers by simply adjusting the amount of octylammonium cations and oleic acid. The nanoplates exhibit a higher photoluminescence quantum yield than the nanowires possibly due to fewer defects in the nanoplates.