State of the Art and Prospects for Halide Perovskite Nanocrystals

Highly Concentrated, Zwitterionic Ligand-Capped Mn2+:CsPb(Br x Cl1-x )3 Nanocrystals as Bright Scintillators for Fast Neutron Imaging

Fast neutron imaging is a nondestructive technique for large-scale objects such as nuclear fuel rods. However, present detectors are based on conventional phosphors (typically microcrystalline ZnS:Cu) that have intrinsic drawbacks, including light scattering, γ-ray sensitivity, and afterglow. Fast neutron imaging with colloidal nanocrystals (NCs) was demonstrated to eliminate light scattering. While lead halide perovskite (LHP) FAPbBr₃ NCs emitting brightly showed poor spatial resolution due to reabsorption, the Mn²⁺-doped CsPb(BrCl)₃ NCs with oleyl ligands had higher resolution because of large apparent Stokes shift but insufficient concentration for high light yield. In this work, we demonstrate a NC scintillator that features simultaneously high quantum yields, high concentrations, and a large apparent Stokes shift. In particular, we use long-chain zwitterionic ligand capping in the synthesis of Mn²⁺-doped CsPb(BrCl)₃ NCs that allows for attaining very high concentrations (>100 mg/mL) of colloids. The emissive behavior of these ASC18-capped NCs was carefully controlled by compositional tuning that permitted us to select for high quantum yields (>50%) coinciding with Mn-dominated emission for minimal self-absorption. These tailored Mn²⁺:CsPb(BrCl)₃ NCs demonstrated over 8 times brighter light yield than their oleyl-capped variants under fast neutron irradiation, which is competitive with that of near-unity FAPbBr₃ NCs, while essentially eliminating self-absorption. Because of their rare combination of concentrations above 100 mg/mL and high quantum yields, along with minimal self-absorption for good spatial resolution, Mn²⁺:CsPb(BrCl)₃ NCs have the potential to displace ZnS:Cu as the leading scintillator for fast neutron imaging.

Topological Control of 2D Perovskite Emission in the Strong Coupling Regime

Momentum space topology can be exploited to manipulate radiation in real space. Here we demonstrate topological control of 2D perovskite emission in the strong coupling regime via polaritonic bound states in the continuum (BICs). Topological polarization singularities (polarization vortices and circularly polarized eigenstates) are observed at room temperature by measuring the Stokes parameters of photoluminescence in momentum space. Particularly, in symmetry-broken structures, a very large degree of circular polarization (DCP) of ∼0.835 is achieved in the perovskite emission, which is the largest in perovskite materials to our knowledge. In the strong coupling regime, lower polariton modes shift to the low-loss spectral region, resulting in strong emission enhancement and large DCP. Our reciprocity analysis reveals that DCP is limited by material absorption at the emission wavelength. Polaritonic BICs based on 2D perovskite materials combine unique topological features with exceptional material properties and may become a promising platform for active nanophotonic devices.

Encapsulation of lead halide perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) at the single-particle level: strategies and properties

Lead halide perovskite NCs (APbX₃, A = formamidinium (FA), methylammonium (MA) or Cs; X = Cl, Br, I or their mixture) have attracted unprecedented attention due to their excellent photophysical properties and wide application prospects. However, the inherent ionic structure of APbX₃ NCs makes them very sensitive to external conditions such as water and oxygen, resulting in poor stability. As a feasible strategy, encapsulation is considered to be effective in improving the stability. In this minireview, we focus on single-particle-level coating, which not only can improve the stability but also maintain the nano effect of the original NCs. This review summarizes the fundamental information on APbX₃ NCs and the necessity of single-particle-level coating. Subsequently, a variety of heterostructures at the single-particle level are introduced in detail. Then, their applications are summarized. Moreover, we discuss the challenges and prospects of the single-particle-level heterostructures based on APbX₃ NCs.

Magnetic Effect of Dopants on Bright and Dark Excitons in Strongly Confined Mn-Doped CsPbI3 Quantum Dots

We investigated the magnetic effect of Mn²⁺ ions on an exciton of Mn-doped CsPbI₃ quantum dots (QDs), where we looked for the signatures of an exciton magnetic polaron known to produce a large effective magnetic field in Mn-doped CdSe QDs. In contrast to Mn-doped CdSe QDs that can produce ∼100 T of magnetic field upon photoexcitation, manifested as a large change in the energy and relaxation dynamics of a bright exciton, Mn-doped CsPbI₃ QDs exhibited little influence of a magnetic dopant on the behavior of a bright exciton. However, a μs-lived dark exciton in CsPbI₃ QDs showed 40% faster decay in the presence of Mn²⁺, equivalent to the effect of ∼3 T of an external magnetic field. While further study is necessary to fully understand the origin of the large difference in the magneto-optic property of an exciton in two systems, we consider that the difference in antiferromagnetic coupling of the dopants is an important contributing factor.

Cyan Emission in Two-Dimensional Colloidal Cs2CdCl4:Sb3+ Ruddlesden-Popper Phase Nanoplatelets

Metal halide perovskites are one of the most investigated materials in optoelectronics, with their lead-based counterparts being renowned for their enhanced optoelectronic performance. The 3D CsPbX₃ structure has set the standard with many studies currently attempting to substitute lead with other metals while retaining the properties of this material. This effort has led to the fabrication of metal halides with lower dimensionality, wherein particular 2D layered perovskite structures have captured attention as inspiration for the next generation of colloidal semiconductors. Here we report the synthesis of the Ruddlesden-Popper Cs₂CdCl₄:Sb³⁺ phase as colloidal nanoplatelets (NPs) using a facile hot injection approach under atmospheric conditions. Through strict adjustment of the synthesis parameters with emphasis on the ligand ratio, we obtained NPs with a relatively uniform size and good morphological control. The particles were characterized through transmission electron microscopy, synchrotron X-ray diffraction, and pair distribution function analysis. The spectroscopic characterization revealed most strikingly an intense cyan emission under UV excitation with a measured PLQY of ∼20%. The emission was attributed to the Sb³⁺-doping within the structure.

Luminescence and Stability Enhancement of Inorganic Perovskite Nanocrystals via Selective Surface Ligand Binding

Colloidal lead halide perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) have recently emerged as one of the most promising light-emitting materials for optoelectronic devices with outstanding performance. However, the facile detachment of surface capping organic ligands from these NCs leads to very poor colloidal stability and durability. This is mainly due to the weak interfacial interactions between the inorganic perovskite core and ligands, high density of surface defect states, and aggregation of NCs. Here, using a combination of time-resolved laser spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we explored the major impact of surface orientations and terminations for both CsPbBr₃ and Cs₄PbBr₆ NCs not only on the interfacial binding affinities with organic ligands but also on surface defect formation and NC aggregation. By rationalizing that surface trap states are responsible for the decrease in photoluminescence (PL) upon fabrication and purification, we propose a powerful ligand-engineering strategy for eliminating these trap states and preventing the aggregation of CsPbBr₃ and Cs₄PbBr₆ NCs. Interestingly, we find that the surface orientation and dimensionality determine the degree of interfacial interactions between the inorganic perovskite core and ligands and subsequently control the overall PL intensity and NC stability. Our results demonstrate that a treatment of as-synthesized CsPbBr₃ NCs consisting of the addition of extra oleylammonium bromide (OAmBr) as a capping ligand, allows the CsPbBr₃ NCs to retain their green emission with increased PL intensity and quantum yields and improves colloidal durability. On the other hand, the ultraviolet emissions of Cs₄PbBr₆ NCs are effectively increased upon addition of extra cesium oleate (CsOL) as the trap states induced by surface cesium ions are largely reduced by the formation of Cs-O bonds. Our work provides a robust and adequate ligand engineering approach to significantly enhance the optical behavior of perovskite NCs with different dimensionalities and various compositions and to achieve more efficient and stable light-harvesting devices.

CsPbBr3-CdS heterostructure: stabilizing perovskite nanocrystals for photocatalysis

The instability of cesium lead bromide (CsPbBr3) nanocrystals (NCs) in polar solvents has hampered their use in photocatalysis. We have now succeeded in synthesizing CsPbBr3-CdS heterostructures with improved stability and photocatalytic performance. While the CdS deposition provides solvent stability, the parent CsPbBr3 in the heterostructure harvests photons to generate charge carriers. This heterostructure exhibits longer emission lifetime (τ ave = 47 ns) than pristine CsPbBr3 (τ ave = 7 ns), indicating passivation of surface defects. We employed ethyl viologen (EV2+) as a probe molecule to elucidate excited state interactions and interfacial electron transfer of CsPbBr3-CdS NCs in toluene/ethanol mixed solvent. The electron transfer rate constant as obtained from transient absorption spectroscopy was 9.5 × 1010 s-1 and the quantum efficiency of ethyl viologen reduction (Φ EV+˙) was found to be 8.4% under visible light excitation. The Fermi level equilibration between CsPbBr3-CdS and EV2+/EV+˙ redox couple has allowed us to estimate the apparent conduction band energy of the heterostructure as -0.365 V vs. NHE. The insights into effective utilization of perovskite nanocrystals built around a quasi-type II heterostructures pave the way towards effective utilization in photocatalytic reduction and oxidation processes.

Cs-Lattice Extension and Expansion for Inducing Secondary Growth of CsPbBr3 Perovskite Nanocrystals

The increase of the stability of perovskite nanocrystals with respect to exposure to polar media, layers growth, or shelling with different materials is in demand. While these are widely studied for metal chalcogenide nanocrystals, it has yet to be explored for perovskite nanocrystals. Even growth of a single monolayer on any facet or on the entire surface of these nanocrystals could not be established yet. To address this, herein, a secondary growth approach leading to creation of a secondary lattice with subsequent expansion on preformed CsPbBr₃ perovskite nanocrystals is reported. As direct layer growth by adding precursors was not successful, Cs-lattice extension to preformed CsPbBr₃ nanocrystals was performed by coupling CsBr to these nanocrystals. Opening both {110}/{002} and {200} facets of parent CsPbBr₃ nanocrystals, CsBr was observed to be connected with lattice matching to the {200} facets. Further with Pb(II) incorporation, the Cs-sublattices of CsBr were expanded to CsPbBr₃ and led to cube-couple nanocrystals. However, as cubes in these nanostructures were differently oriented, these showed lattice mismatch at their junctions. This lattice mismatch though restricted complete shelling but successfully favored the secondary growth on specific facets of parent CsPbBr₃ nanocrystals. Details of this secondary growth via lattice extension and expansion are microscopically analyzed and reported. These results further suggest that lead halide perovskite nanocrystals can be epitaxially grown under proper reaction design and more complex as well as heterostructures of these materials can be fabricated to meet the current demands.

Ruddlesden-Popper Hybrid Lead Bromide Perovskite Nanosheets of Phase Pure n=2: Stabilized Colloids Stored in the Solid State

Ruddlesden‐Popper lead halide perovskite (RP‐LHP) nano‐nanostructures can be regarded as self‐assembled quantum wells or superlattices of 3D perovskites with an intrinsic quantum well thickness of a single or a few (n=2‐4) lead halide layers; the quantum wells are separated by organic layers. They can be scaled down to a single quantum well dimension. Here, the preparation of highly (photo)chemical and colloidal stable hybrid LHP nanosheets (NSs) of ca. 7.4 μm lateral size and 2.5 nm quantum well height (thereby presenting a deep blue emission at ca. 440 nm), is reported for the first time. The NSs are close‐lying and they even interconnect when deposited on a substrate. Their synthesis is based on the use of the p‐toluenesulfonic acid/dodecylamine (pTS/DDA) ligand pair and their (photo)chemical stability and photoluminescence is enhanced by adding EuBr₂ nanodots (EuNDs). Strikingly, they can be preserved as a solid and stored for at least one year. The blue emissive colloid can be recovered from the solid as needed by simply dispersing the powder in toluene and then using it to prepare solid films, making them very promising candidates for manufacturing devices.

Origin of Luminescence in Sb3+- and Bi3+-Doped Cs2SnCl6 Perovskites: Excited State Relaxation and Spin-Orbit Coupling

Sb³⁺- and Bi³⁺-doped Cs₂SnCl₆ zero-dimensional perovskites are emerging as stable and nontoxic phosphors for light emitting diodes. The outermost s-electrons (ns²) of the dopants are responsible for both light absorption (ns² to ns¹np¹) and emission (ns¹np¹ to ns²). At cryogenic temperatures, the Sb³⁺ dopant shows two emission peaks, but Bi³⁺ shows only one emission peak. Why? Here we address such questions, revealing the origin of luminescence in Sb³⁺- and Bi³⁺-doped Cs₂SnCl₆. We find that the emitting excited state ns¹np¹ is a triplet state ³T_1u^*. The notation "*" implies spin-orbit coupling between the ³T_1u and ¹T_1u states. After light absorption, ³T_1u^* is occupied with one electron, which then undergoes Jahn-Teller distortion yielding a relaxed excited state (RES). For the Sb³⁺ dopant, the combination of Jahn-Teller distortion and spin-orbit coupling gives rise to two minima in RES ³T_1u^*, resulting in two emission peaks, whereas for the Bi³⁺ dopant, the spin-orbit coupling significantly dominates over the Jahn-Teller splitting yielding a single minimum in RES ³T_1u^* and, therefore, a single emission peak.

Polysalt ligands achieve higher quantum yield and improved colloidal stability for CsPbBr3 quantum dots

Colloidal lead halide perovskite quantum dots (PQDs) are relatively new semiconductor nanocrystals with great potential for use in optoelectronic applications. They also present a set of new scientifically challenging fundamental problems to investigate and understand. One of them is to address the rather poor colloidal and structural stability of these materials under solution phase processing and/or transfer between solvents. In this contribution, we detail the synthesis of a new family of multi-coordinating, bromide-based polysalt ligands and test their ability to stabilize CsPbBr₃ nanocrystals in polar solutions. The ligands present multiple salt groups involving quaternary cations, namely ammonium and imidazolium as anchors for coordination onto PQD surfaces, along with several alkyl chains with varying chain length to promote solubilization in various conditions. The ligands provide a few key benefits including the ability to repair damaged surface sites, allow rapid ligand exchange and phase transfer, and preserve the crystalline structure and morphology of the nanocrystals. The polysalt-coated PQDs exhibit near unity PLQY and significantly enhanced colloidal stability in ethanol and methanol.

Perovskite Nanocrystals with Tunable Fluorescent Intensity during Anion Exchange for Dynamic Optical Encryption

Perovskite nanocrystals (PNCs) have demonstrated their potential use in many applications such as optical encryption because of their excellent optical properties. However, the optical encryption using PNCs is mainly based on the formation of static patterns with luminescence on/off switching. In this work, we demonstrated that the capping ligands play an important role in tuning the luminescence intensity of the PNCs during ion exchange. The surfactant, oleylamine (OAm), is essential in shifting the luminescence color of the PNCs from green to yellow during the ion exchange. In the absence of OAm, the luminescence in the green and yellow regions is quenched during the ion exchange and the luminescence is recovered in the red region by adding trioctylphosphine (TOP) into the ion-exchange solution. On the basis of these findings, we proposed a dynamic optical encryption strategy using PNCs with different capping ligands by tuning the luminescence intensity. The encoded message is hidden in the green pattern at the beginning, shown during the ion exchange, and erased when the pattern is completely converted from a green color to a red color after the ion exchange ends. This dynamic encryption strategy enhances the security level and is compatible with human eye-perceivable patterns and binary coding algorithms.

Dimensionality Control of Inorganic and Hybrid Perovskite Nanocrystals by Reaction Temperature: From No-Confinement to 3D and 1D Quantum Confinement

This work focuses on the systematic investigation of the shape, size, and composition‐controlled synthesis of perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) under inert gas‐free conditions and using pre‐synthesized precursor stock solutions. In the case of CsPbBr₃ NCs, we find that the lowering of reaction temperature from ∼175 to 100 °C initially leads to a change of morphology from bulk‐like 3D nanocubes to 0D nanocubes with 3D‐quantum confinement, while at temperatures below 100 °C the reaction yields 2D nanoplatelets (NPls) with 1D‐quantum confinement. However, to our surprise, at higher temperatures (∼215 °C), the reaction yields CsPbBr₃ hexapod NCs, which have been rarely reported. The synthesis is scalable, and their halide composition is tunable by simply using different combinations of precursor solutions. The versatility of the synthesis is demonstrated by applying it to relatively less explored shape‐controlled synthesis of FAPbBr₃ NCs. Despite the synthesis carried out in the air, both the inorganic and hybrid perovskite NCs exhibit nearly‐narrow emission without applying any size‐selective separation, and it is precisely tunable by controlling the reaction temperature.

Interfacial "Anchoring Effect" Enables Efficient Large-Area Sky-Blue Perovskite Light-Emitting Diodes

While tremendous progress has recently been made in perovskite light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs), large-area blue devices feature inferior performance due to uneven morphologies and vast defects in the solution-processed perovskite films. To alleviate these issues, a facile and reliable interface engineering scheme is reported for manipulating the crystallization of perovskite films enabled by a multifunctional molecule 2-amino-1,3-propanediol (APDO)-triggered "anchoring effect" at the grain-growth interface. Sky-blue perovskite films with large-area uniformity and low trap states are obtained, showing the distinctly improved radiative recombination and hole-transport capability. Based on the APDO-induced interface engineering, synergistical boost in device performance is achieved for large-area sky-blue PeLED (measuring at 100 mm2 ) with a peak external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 9.2% and a highly prolonged operational lifetime. A decent EQE up to 6.1% is demonstrated for the largest sky-blue device emitting at 400 mm2 .

Reversible transformation of all-inorganic copper halide perovskite nanocrystals for anti-counterfeiting

This work reports a CsI stripping/insertion process that enables the reversible transformation between blue-emissive Cs₃Cu₂I₅ and yellow-emissive CsCu₂I₃ upon moisture/evaporation treatment. The successful transformation can be ascribed to the unique space confinement of the SiO₂ matrix and ligand-free feature of perovskite nanocrystals, which can be a good candidate for anti-counterfeiting.

Ultrafast Study of Exciton Transfer in Sb(III)-Doped Two-Dimensional [NH3(CH2)4NH3]CdBr4 Perovskite

Antimony-based metal halide hybrids have attracted enormous attention due to the stereoactive 5s² electron pair that drives intense triplet broadband emission. However, energy/charge transfer has been rarely achieved for Sb³⁺-doped materials. Herein, Sb³⁺ ions are homogeneously doped into 2D [NH₃(CH₂)₄NH₃]CdBr₄ perovskite (Cd-PVK) using a wet-chemical method. Compared to the weak singlet exciton emission of Cd-PVK at 380 nm, 0.01% Sb³⁺-doped Cd-PVK exhibits intense triplet emission located at 640 nm with a near-unity quantum yield. Further increasing the doping concentration of Sb³⁺ completely quenches singlet exciton emission of Cd-PVK, concurrently with enhanced Sb³⁺ triplet emission. Delayed luminescence and femtosecond-transient absorption studies suggest that Sb³⁺ emission originates from exciton transfer (ET) from Cd-PVK host to Sb³⁺ dopant, while such ET cannot occur with Pb²⁺-doped Cd-PVK because of the mismatch of energy levels. In addition, density function theory calculations indicate that the introduced Sb³⁺ likely replace the Cd²⁺ ions along with the deprotonation of butanediammonium for charge balance, instead of generating Cd²⁺ vacancies. This work provides a deeper understanding of the ET of Sb³⁺-doped Cd-PVK and suggests an effective strategy to achieve efficient triplet Sb³⁺ emission beyond 0D Cl-based hybrids.

Effect of PbSO4-Oleate Coverage on Cesium Lead Halide Perovskite Quantum Dots to Control Halide Exchange Kinetics

The selective control of halide ion exchange in metal halide perovskite quantum dots (PQDs) plays an important role in determining their band gap and composition. In this study, CsPbX₃ (X = Cl⁻, Br⁻, and I⁻) PQDs were self-assembled with PbSO₄-oleate to form a peapod-like morphology to selectively control halide ion exchange. Considering the distinct absorption and bright luminescence characteristics of these PQDs, in situ UV-Vis. absorption and fluorescence spectroscopies were employed to monitor the time-dependent band gap and compositional changes of the PQDs. We determined that the halide exchange in the capped PQDs is hindered—unlike the rapid anion exchange in noncapped PQDs—by a reduction in the halide exchange kinetic rate depending on the extent of coverage of the PQDs. Thus, we tracked the halide ion exchange kinetics between CsPbBr₃ and CsPbI₃ PQDs, depending on the coverage, using in situ UV-Vis. absorption/photoluminescence spectroscopy. We regulated the halide exchange reaction rate by varying the capping reaction temperature of the PQDs. The capping hindered the halide exchange kinetics and increased the activation energy. These results will enable the development of white LEDs, photovoltaic cells, and photocatalysts with alternative structural designs based on the divalent composition of CsPbX₃ PQDs.

Present and Perspectives of Photoactive Porous Composites Based on Semiconductor Nanocrystals and Metal-Organic Frameworks

This review focuses on the recent developments in synthesis, properties, and applications of a relatively new family of photoactive porous composites, integrated by metal halide perovskite (MHP) nanocrystals and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). The synergy between the two systems has led to materials (MHP@MOF composites) with new functionalities along with improved properties and phase stability, thus broadening their applications in multiple areas of research such as sensing, light-harvesting solar cells, light-emitting device technology, encryption, and photocatalysis. The state of the art, recent progress, and most promising routes for future research on these photoactive porous composites are presented in the end.

Chemically Spiraling CsPbBr3 Perovskite Nanorods

Light emitting lead halide perovskite nanocrystals are currently emerging as the workhorse in quantum dot research. Most of these reported nanocrystals are isotropic cubes or polyhedral; but anisotropic nanostructures with controlled anisotropic directions still remain a major challenge. For orthorhombic CsPbBr₃, the 1D shaped nanostructures reported are linear and along either of the axial directions ⟨100⟩. In contrast, herein, spiral CsPbBr₃ perovskite nanorods in the orthorhombic phase are reported with unusual anisotropy having (101) planes remaining perpendicular to the major axis [201]. While these nanorods are synthesized using the prelattice of orthorhombic Cs₂CdBr₄ with Pb(II) diffusion, the spirality is controlled by manipulation of the compositions of alkylammonium ions in the reaction system which selectively dissolve some spiral facets of the nanorods. Further, as spirality varied with facet creation and elimination, these nanorods were explored as photocatalysts for CO₂ reduction, and the evolution of methane was also found to be dependent on the depth of the spiral nanorods. The entire study demonstrates facet manipulation of complex nanorods, and these results suggest that even if perovskites are ionic in nature, their shape could be constructed by design with proper reaction manipulation.

Long-Range Interfacial Charge Carrier Trapping in Halide Perovskite-C60 and Halide Perovskite-TiO2 Donor-Acceptor Films

Interfacial electron transfer across perovskite-electron acceptor heterojunctions plays a significant role in the power-conversion efficiency of perovskite solar cells. Thus, electron donor-acceptor thin films of halide perovskite nanocrystals receive considerable attention. Nevertheless, understanding and optimizing distance- and thickness-dependent electron transfer in perovskite-electron acceptor heterojunctions are important. We reveal the distance-dependent and diffusion-controlled interfacial electron transfer across donor-acceptor heterojunction films formed by formamidinium or cesium lead bromide (FAPbBr₃/CsPbBr₃) perovskite nanocrystals with TiO₂/C₆₀. Self-assembled nanocrystal films prepared from FAPbBr₃ show a longer photoluminescence lifetime than a solution, showing a long-range carrier migration. The acceptors quench the photoluminescence intensity but not the lifetime in a solution, revealing a static electron transfer. Conversely, the electron transfer in the films changes from dynamic to static by moving toward the donor-acceptor interface. While radiative recombination dominates the electron transfer at 800 μm or farther, the acceptors scavenge the photogenerated carriers within 100 μm. This research highlights the significance of interfacial electron transfer in perovskite films.

Organic Matrix Assisted Low-temperature Crystallization of Black Phase Inorganic Perovskites

All-inorganic perovskites have attracted increasing attention for applications in perovskite solar cells (PSCs) and optoelectronics, including light-emitting devices (LEDs). Cesium lead halide perovskites with tunable I/Br ratios and a band gap aligning with the sunlight region are promising candidates for PSCs. Although impressive progress has been made to improve device efficiency from the initial 2.9 % with low phase stability to over 20 % with high stability, there are still questions regarding the perovskite crystal growth mechanism, especially at low temperatures. In this Minireview, we summarize recent developments in using an organic matrix, including the addition and use of organic ions, polymers, and solvent molecules, for the crystallization of black phase inorganic perovskites at temperatures lower than the phase transition point. We also discuss possible mechanisms for this low-temperature crystallization and their effect on the stability of black phase perovskites. We conclude with an outlook and perspective for further fabrication of large-scale inorganic perovskites for optoelectronic applications.

Surface energy transfer in hybrid halide perovskite/plasmonic Au nanoparticle composites

The incorporation of plasmonic metal nanoparticles (NPs) into the multilayered architecture of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) has been a recurrent strategy to enhance the performance of photovoltaic devices from the early development of this technology. However, the specific photophysical interactions between the metal NPs and the hybrid halide perovskites are still not completely understood. Herein, we investigate the influence of Au NPs on the photoluminescence (PL) signal of a thin layer of the CH₃NH₃PbI₃ hybrid perovskite. Core-shell Au@SiO₂ NPs with a tunable thickness of the SiO₂ shell were used to adjust the interaction distance between the plasmonic NPs and the perovskite layer. Complete quenching of the PL signal in the presence of the Au NPs is measured together with the gradual recovery of the PL intensity at a thicker thickness of the SiO₂ shell. A nanometal surface energy transfer (NSET) model is employed to reasonably fit the experimental quenching efficiency. Thus, the energy transfer deactivation is revealed as a detrimental process occurring in the PSCs since it funnels the photon energy into the non-active excited state of the Au NPs. This work indicates that tuning the distance between the plasmonic NPs and the perovskite materials by a silica shell may be a simple and straightforward strategy for further improving the efficiency of PSCs.

Circularly Polarized Emission from Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Perovskites via Chiral Fano Resonances

Organic-inorganic hybrid perovskites hold great potential for various optoelectronic devices with exceptional properties. Although the direct generation of circularly polarized emission from perovskites would enable various compact devices, achieving a large degree of circular polarization (DCP) at room temperature still remains challenging. Herein, we demonstrate that DCP can be strongly enhanced at the narrow mode position of chiral Fano resonances. In our design, a perovskite film is spin-coated on a symmetry-broken structure with a relatively large feature size. A large DCP of more than 0.5 is achieved at room temperature without the direct patterning of the perovskite layer. Reciprocity calculation reveals that chiral field enhancement enables the emission of opposite helicity to couple into counter-propagating slab modes and leads to a large DCP. Our design is very general and scalable. Our work may lead to circularly polarized light sources based on various perovskite materials.

Switchable Anion Exchange in Polymer-Encapsulated APbX3 Nanocrystals Delivers Stable All-Perovskite White Emitters

We report a one-step synthesis of halide perovskite nanocrystals embedded in amphiphilic polymer (poly(acrylic acid)-block-poly(styrene), PAA-b-PS) micelles, based on injecting a dimethylformamide solution of PAA-b-PS, PbBr₂, ABr (A = Cs, formamidinium, or both) and "additive" molecules in toluene. These bifunctional or trifunctional short chain organic molecules improve the nanocrystal-polymer compatibility, increasing the nanocrystal stability against polar solvents and high flux irradiation (the nanocrystals retain almost 80% of their photoluminescence after 1 h of 3.2 w/cm² irradiation). If the nanocrystals are suspended in toluene, the coil state of the polymer allows the nanocrystals to undergo halide exchange, enabling emission color tunability. If the nanocrystals are suspended in methanol, or dried as powders, the polymer is in the globule state, and they are inert to halide exchange. By mixing three primary colors we could prepare stable, multicolor emissive samples (for example, white emitting powders) and a UV-to-white color converting layer for light-emitting diodes entirely made of perovskite nanocrystals.

Formation and Near-Infrared Emission of CsPbI3 Nanoparticles Embedded in Cs4PbI6 Crystals

Cs₄PbI₆, as a rarely investigated member of the Cs₄PbX₆ (X is a halogen element) family, has been successfully synthesized at low temperatures, and the synthetic conditions have been optimized. Metal iodides such as LiI, KI, NiI₂, CoI₂, and ZnI₂, as additives, play an important role in enhancing the formation of the Cs₄PbI₆ microcrystals. ZnI₂ with the lowest dissociation energy is the most efficient additive to supply iodide ions, and its amount of addition has also been optimized. Strong red to near-infrared (NIR) emission properties have been detected, and its optical emission centers have been identified to be numerous embedded perovskite-type α-CsPbI₃ nanocrystallites (∼5 nm in diameter) based on investigations of temperature- and pressure-dependent photoluminescent properties. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy was used to detect these hidden nanoparticles, although the material was highly beam-sensitive and confirmed a "raisin bread"-like structure of the Cs₄PbI₆ crystals. A NIR mini-LED for the biological application has been successfully fabricated using as-synthesized Cs₄PbI₆ crystals. This work provides information for the future development of infrared fluorescent nanoscale perovskite materials.

Investigation of the exciton relaxation processes in poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene-co-benzothiadiazole):CsPbI1.5Br1.5 nanocrystal hybrid polymer–perovskite nanocrystal blend

The combination of lead halide perovskite nanocrystals and conjugated polymer in a blend film opens the way to the realization of hybrid active layers with widely tunable optical and electrical properties. However, the interaction between the polymeric and the perovskite component of the blends is mainly unexplored to date. In this work we perform temperature-dependent photoluminescence and time resolved photoluminescence measurements in order to deeply investigate the photophysics of a poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene-co-benzothiadiazole) (F8BT):CsPbI_1.5Br_1.5 nanocrystal hybrid film. Our results suggest that the primary interaction channel is charge transfer, both from F8BT to the NCs and from the NCs to F8BT, while Förster resonant energy transfer has no visible effects. Moreover, we show that the charge transfer is assisted by energy migration within the F8BT excited state distribution and that it is dependent on the local micromorphology of the film. Our work improves the current understanding of the polymer:perovskite NC interactions in hybrid films, and it is expected to be relevant for the development of hybrid organic–perovskite optoelectronic devices.

The emission properties of a hybrid polymer:perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) blend film are investigated, evidencing that the main interaction process is not Förster transfer, but instead bidirectional polymer → NC and NC → polymer charge transfer.