Recent Progress and Development in Inorganic Halide Perovskite Quantum Dots for Photoelectrochemical Applications

Perovskite Nanocrystals In Situ Encapsulated in TiO2 Microspheres for Stable CO2 Photoreduction in Water

Photoreduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) into fuels presents a promising approach to mitigate global warming and energy crises. Halide perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) with prominent optoelectronic properties have triggered substantial attention as photocatalysts but are limited by the charge recombination and instability. Here, we develop stable CsPbBr3/titania microspheres (TMs) by in situ growth of CsPbBr3 NCs inside mesoporous TMs through solid-state sintering, which significantly improves the stability of perovskite NCs, making them applicable in water with efficient CO2 photoreduction performance. Notably, the CsPbBr3/TMs demonstrates a 6.73- and 9.23-fold increase in the rate of CH4 production compared to TMs and CsPbBr3, respectively. The internal electric field facilitates S-scheme charge transfer, enhancing the separation of electron-hole pairs, as evidenced by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and electron paramagnetic resonance analysis, which is pivotal for the selective photoreduction of CO2. These insights pave the way for the design of CsPbBr3-based photocatalysts with superior efficiency and stability.

Construction of Cs2AgBiCl6/COF Heterojunction for Boosted Photocatalytic Thioester Oxidation

Lead-free halide perovskites as a new kind of potential candidate for photocatalytic organic synthesis have attracted much attention recently. The rational heterojunction construction is regarded as an efficient strategy to delicately regulate their catalytic performances. Herein, a semi-conductive covalent organic framework (COF) nanosheet, C4N, is employed as the functional component to construct Cs2AgBiCl6/C4N (CABC/C4N) heterojunction. It is found that the C4N nanosheets with rich surface functional groups can serve as heterogeneous nucleation sites to manipulate the growth of CABC nanocrystals and afford close contact between each other, therefore facilitate the transfer and spatial separation of photogenerated charge carriers, as verified by in situ X-ray photoelectronic spectroscopy and Kelvin probe force microscopy. Moreover, the oxygen affinity of C4N endows the heterojunctions with outstanding aerobic reactivity, thus improving the photocatalytic performance largely. The optimal CABC/C4N heterojunction delivers a thioanisole conversion efficiency of 100% after 6 h, which is 2.2 and 7.7-fold of that of CABC and C4N. This work provides a new ideal for the design and application of lead-free perovskite heterojunction photocatalysts for organic reactions.

Water-stable perovskite CsPb2Br5/CdSe quantum dot-based photoelectrochemical sensors for the sensitive determination of dopamine

A heterojunction of CdSe quantum dots in situ grown on the perovskite CsPb2Br5 (CsPb2Br5/CdSe) for water-stable photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensing was simply synthesized using the hot-injection method. Due to the inherent built-in electric field and the matching band structure between CsPb2Br5 and CdSe, the CsPb2Br5/CdSe p-n heterojunction demonstrates enhanced photoelectrochemical properties. Accelerated interfacial charge transfer and increased electron-hole pair separation enable hydrolysis-resistant CsPb2Br5/CdSe sensors to exhibit heightened sensitivity with an ultra-low detection limit (0.0124 μM) and a wide linear range (0.4-303.9 μM) in subsequent dopamine detection. Moreover, the CsPb2Br5/CdSe sensors show excellent anti-interference ability, as well as remarkable stability and reproducibility in water solvent. It is noteworthy that this work is conducted in an aqueous environment, which provides an inspiring and convenient way for photoelectric and photoelectrocatalysis applications based on water-resistant perovskites.

A comprehensive review on the application of semiconducting materials in the degradation of effluents and water splitting

In this comprehensive review article, we delve into the critical intersection of environmental science and materials science. The introduction sets the stage by emphasizing the global water shortage crisis and the dire consequences of untreated effluents on ecosystems and human health. As we progress into the second section, we embark on an intricate exploration of piezoelectric and photocatalytic principles, illuminating their significance in wastewater treatment and sustainable energy production. The heart of our review is dedicated to a detailed analysis of the detrimental impacts of effluents on human health, underscoring the urgency of effective treatment methods. We dissected three key materials in the realm of piezo-photocatalysis: ZnO-based materials, BaTiO3-based materials, and bismuth-doped materials. Each material is scrutinized for its unique properties and applications in the removal of pollutants from wastewater, offering a comprehensive understanding of their potential to address this critical issue. Furthermore, our exploration extends to the realm of hydrogen production, where we discuss various types of hydrogen and the role of piezo-photocatalysis in generating clean and sustainable hydrogen. By illuminating the synergistic potential of these advanced materials and technologies, we pave the way for innovative solutions to the pressing challenges of water pollution and renewable energy production. This review article not only serves as a valuable resource for researchers and scholars in the fields of material science and environmental engineering but also underscores the pivotal role of interdisciplinary approaches in addressing complex global issues.

Potential and perspectives of halide perovskites in light emitting devices

Light emitting diodes (LEDs) have become part of numerous electrical and electronic systems such as lighting, displays, status indicator lamps and wearable electronics. Owing to their excellent optoelectronic properties and deposition via simple solution process, metal halide perovskites possess unique potential for developing halide perovskite-based LEDs (PeLEDs) with superior photoluminescence efficiencies leading to external quantum efficiencies beyond 20% for PeLEDS. However, the limited durability, high operative voltages, and challenges of scale-up are persisting barriers in achieving required technology readiness levels. To build up the existing knowledge and raise the device performance this review provides a state-of-the-art study on the properties, film and device fabrication, efficiency, and stability of PeLEDs. In terms of commercialization, PeLEDs need to overcome materials and device challenges including stability, ion migration, phase segregation, and joule heating, which are discussed in this review. We hope, discussions about the strategies to overcome the stability issues and enhancement the materials intrinsic properties towards development more stable and efficient optoelectronic devices can pave the way for scalability and cost-effective production of PeLEDs.

Application of a Perovskite NIR-LED with Highly Stable FAPbI3@SiO2 Core-Shell Nanocomposites in a SPR Sensing Platform

In recent years, the demand for detection and diagnostic methods has consistently risen due to the aging of the population and the increase in the number of patients with chronic diseases. Label-free biomedical detection techniques have emerged as indispensable instruments for diagnosing a variety of diseases. The development of label-free and highly sensitive near-infrared (NIR) biomedical detection technology has attracted considerable attention. As a label-free, swift, and cost-effective analytical technique, it has demonstrated immense potential for a wide range of applications. We successfully assembled FAPbI3 near-infrared perovskite quantum dots (NIPQDs) into SiO2 shells using a rapid room-temperature atmospheric synthesis method, obtaining monodisperse FAPbI3@SiO2 nanocomposites (NCs) with a high photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of 72%. Additionally, the incorporation of hydrophobic multi-branched trioctylphosphine oxide effectively passivated the surface defects of FAPbI3 NIPQDs and suppressed the hydrolysis rate of tetraethoxysilane, enabling the formation of a highly stable and high PLQY nanoscale-particle level within the FAPbI3@SiO2 core-shell structure. Notably, we successfully incorporated FAPbI3@SiO2 core-shell NCs onto InGaN blue chip as NIR excitation light sources for surface plasmon resonance sensing platforms, providing a novel platform for bioanalytical detection. With a detection sensitivity of 6302.5 nm/RIU, the system demonstrated high sensitivity, stability, and dependability. This achievement expands the biomedical research field's capacity for diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment.

Photoelectrochemical Engineering for Light-Assisted Rechargeable Metal Batteries: Mechanism, Development, and Future

Rechargeable battery devices with high energy density are highly demanded by  our  modern society. The use of metal anodes is extremely attractive for future rechargeable battery devices. However, the notorious metal dendritic and instability of solid electrolyte interface issues pose a series of challenges for metal anodes. Recently, considering the indigestible dynamical behavior of metal anodes, photoelectrochemical engineering of light-assisted metal anodes have been rapidly developed since they efficiently utilize the integration and synergy of oriented crystal engineering and photocatalysis engineering, which provided a potential way to unlock the interface electrochemical mechanism and deposition reaction kinetics of metal anodes. This review starts with the fundamentals of photoelectrochemical engineering and follows with the state-of-art advance of photoelectrochemical engineering for light-assisted rechargeable metal batteries where photoelectrode materials, working principles, types, and practical applications are explained. The last section summarizes the major challenges and some invigorating perspectives for future research on light-assisted rechargeable metal batteries.

Recent advances on surface mounted metal-organic frameworks for energy storage and conversion applications: Trends, challenges, and opportunities

Establishing green and reliable energy resources is very important to counteract the carbon footprints and negative impact of non-renewable energy resources. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are a class of porous material finding numerous applications due to their exceptional qualities, such as high surface area, low density, superior structural flexibility, and stability. Recently, increased attention has been paid to surface mounted MOFs (SURMOFs), which is nothing but thin film of MOF, as a new category in nanotechnology having unique properties compared to bulk MOFs. With the advancement of material growth and synthesis technologies, the fine tunability of film thickness, consistency, size, and geometry with a wide range of MOF complexes is possible. In this review, we recapitulate various synthesis approaches of SURMOFs including epitaxial synthesis approach, direct solvothermal method, Langmuir-Blodgett LBL deposition, Inkjet printing technique and others and then correlated the synthesis-structure-property relationship in terms of energy storage and conversion applications. Further the critical assessment and current problems of SURMOFs have been briefly discussed to explore the future opportunities in SURMOFs for energy storage and conversion applications.

Enhanced photoluminescence of double perovskite Cs2SnI6 nanocrystals via Na+ doping

Double perovskites without lead element have attracted great attention in recent years. Further increasing the photoluminescence quantum yield of lead-free double perovskites is necessary for their potential applications. In this work, Na⁺ doped Cs₂SnI₆ nanocrystals were synthesized by hot injection method. It was displayed that all the NCs have uniform hexagonal shape with good crystallization. Energy dispersing spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy proves the Na⁺ ions were doped in the lattice of perovskite structure. The photoluminescence intensity of doped NCs is increased by 2.7-fold than that of pure NCs. A maximum photoluminescence quantum yield of 72% is obtained. The luminous mechanism was investigated by femtosecond transient absorption spectrum and a self-trap emission was proved by the observation of ground state bleaching and photo-induced absorption signals.

Self-supported CsPbBr3/Ti3C2Tx MXene aerogels towards efficient photocatalytic CO2 reduction

Aerogels, especially MXene aerogels, are an ideal multifunctional platform for developing efficient photocatalysts for CO₂ reduction because they are featured by abundant catalytic sites, high electrical conductivity, high gas absorption ability and self-supported structure. However, the pristine MXene aerogel has almost no ability to utilize light, which requires additional photosensitizers to assist it in achieving efficient light harvesting. Herein, we immobilized colloidal CsPbBr₃ nanocrystals (NCs) onto the self-supported Ti₃C₂T_x (where T_x represents surface terminations such as fluorine, oxygen, and hydroxyl groups) MXene aerogels for photocatalytic CO₂ reduction. The resultant CsPbBr₃/Ti₃C₂T_x MXene aerogels exhibit a remarkable photocatalytic activity toward CO₂ reduction with total electron consumption rate of 112.6 μmol g^-1h^-1, which is 6.6-fold higher than that of the pristine CsPbBr₃ NC powders. The improvement of the photocatalytic performance is presumably attributed to the strong light absorption, effective charge separation and CO₂ adsorption in the CsPbBr₃/Ti₃C₂T_x MXene aerogels. This work presents an effective perovskite-based photocatalyst in aerogel form and opens a new avenue for their solar-to-fuel conversions.

Highly efficient silica coated perovskite nanocrystals with the assistance of ionic liquids for warm white LEDs

Given the inherent characteristics of defect-tolerant, tunable emission performance, and high extinction coefficient, lead halide perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) have attracted widespread attention as a promising material in optoelectronic fields. However, their poor structural stability greatly impedes their practical applications. Herein, a novel strategy for synthesizing stable CsPbBr₃@SiO₂ NCs via the hydrolytic polycondensation of (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) in the presence of ionic liquids (ILs) is deliberately designed. The problems of fluorescence quenching and undesirable agglomeration of NCs resulting from ligand loss and surface erosion existing in common encapsulation methods can be effectively resolved. The fast and controllable growth of the SiO₂ shell around the CsPbBr₃ NCs is realized owing to the high polarity and hygroscopicity of the IL. Moreover, the dual effects of the IL for passivating the surface defects and avoiding the structural degradation of NCs during the hydrolysis process of APTES are demonstrated. As a result, CsPbBr₃@SiO₂ NCs with a high photoluminescence quantum yield of 85.7% and excellent stability are realized. Furthermore, this method proves to be a versatile tool to obtain CsPbX₃@SiO₂ NCs with different halide compositions, realizing a broad tunable wavelength from 421.2 nm to 651.6 nm. A warm white LED with a high color rending index was assembled through packaging CsPbBr₃@SiO₂ NCs and Cu-In-Zn-S/ZnS/PVP composites on a commercial blue chip. These findings are expected to facilitate the development of perovskite NCs, which provides access to their optoelectronic applications.

Catalytic Decomposition of the Hole-Derived H2O2 by AgBiS2@Ag Nanozyme to Enhance the Photocurrent of Z-Scheme BiVO4/ZnIn2S4 Photoelectrode in Microfluidic Immunosensing Platform

A novel microfluidic photoelectrochemical (PEC) analytical device based on AgBiS₂@Ag nanozyme-mediated signal amplification was developed for ultrasensitive detection of cytokeratin 19 fragment 21-1 (CYFRA 21-1). First, a brand new Z-scheme BiVO₄/ZnIn₂S₄ (BZIS) photoactive material was utilized as a sensing matrix to supply a stable photocurrent. Under anodic bias, the photoexcited holes in BiVO₄ could oxidize water to produce hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), which markedly enhanced the separation efficiency of the electron-hole pairs. Besides, the Z-scheme heterojunction formed between BiVO₄ and ZnIn₂S₄ further accelerated the transport of the electron. Second, for improving the sensitivity of the PEC sensor, a new strategy of catalytic dissociation of the hole-derived H₂O₂ by AgBiS₂@Ag nanozyme was proposed to amplify the PEC signal. AgBiS₂@Ag composites, possessing an excellent peroxidase-mimicking feature, could efficiently catalyze the H₂O₂ to produce hydroxyl radicals (^•OH) and lead to the significant enhancement of the photocurrent. Third, automatic sample injection and detection were successfully realized by integrating the photoelectrode into microfluidic chips. Based on this advanced sensing strategy, the designed microfluidic PEC sensor displayed a wide linear range (0.1 pg/mL - 100 ng/mL) and a low detection limit of 35 fg/mL (S/N = 3), which could be efficiently applied to the ultrasensitive determination of CYFRA 21-1 in a human serum sample.

Zero- and One-Dimensional Lead-Free Perovskites for Photoelectrochemical Applications

The development of 100% lead-free perovskite materials for photoelectrochemical applications is a hot topic in the current research scenario. Herein, by varying the preparation strategy, we have synthesized two distinct lead-free manganese halide perovskite nanocrystals (NCs), CsMnCl₃(H₂O)₂ (1D-CMC₃H) and Cs₂MnCl₄(H₂O)₂ (0D-C₂MC₄H), by simple ultrasonication/crystallization and a modified ligand-assisted reprecipitation (LARP) approach (room temperature synthesis), respectively. For the first time, a polar solvent methanol was used instead of dimethylformamide (DMF) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) for the synthesis of perovskite NCs. These two manganese halide perovskites exhibit unique morphology-dependent photoluminescence properties. The photoelectrochemical properties of these two Mn-halide-based perovskite NCs were evaluated through electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV). The as-prepared one-dimensional (1D) and zero-dimensional (0D) Mn-halide perovskites exhibit more effectual dissociation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs as well as the presence of more rapid interfacial charge transfer on the photoelectrodes under light irradiation. Further improvement in the photoelectrochemical behavior of the 1D-CMC₃H and 0D-C₂MC₄H perovskite photoelectrodes is achieved with eco-friendly ZnO. The overall photoelectrochemical performances of Mn-halide perovskites with ZnO afforded excellent light-harvesting and charge carrier properties.

Photophysical and photoelectrochemical properties of CsPbBr3 films grown by an electrochemically assisted deposition

Perovskite have had a great impact on the solid-state physics world in the last decade not only achieving great success in photovoltaics but, more recently, also in the implementation of other optoelectronic devices. One of the main obstacles for the adoption of Pb-based perovskite technologies are the high amounts of Pb needed in the conventional preparation methods. Here we present for the first time a detailed analysis of the photophysical and photoelectrochemical properties of CsPbBr3 films directly grown on FTO coated glass through a novel technique based in the electrodeposition of PbO2 as CsPbBr3 precursor. This technique allows to save up to 90 % of the Pb used compared to traditional methods and can be scalable compared with the commonly used spin-coating process. The low temperature analysis of their photoluminescence spectra, performed in both steady state and time dependence, revealed a strong interaction between electrons and longitudinal optical phonons dominant at high temperatures. On the other hand, the electrochemical and photoelectrochemical analysis proves that CsPbBr3 prepared using this new method has state-of-the-art features, showing a p-type behavior under depletion regime. This is also confirmed by photoelectrochemical measurements using p-benzoquinone as target molecule. These results prove that the proposed method can be used to produce excellent CsPbBr3 films, saving much of the lead waste.

Potential Application of Perovskite Structure for Water Treatment: Effects of Band Gap, Band Edges, and Lifetime of Charge Carrier for Photocatalysis

Perovskite structures have attracted scientific interest as a promising alternative for water treatment due to their unique structural, high oxidation activity, electronic stability, and optical properties. In addition, the photocatalytic activity of perovskite structures is higher than that of many transition metal compounds. A critical property that determines the high-performance photocatalytic and optical properties is the band gap, lifetime of carrier charge, and band edges relative to the redox potential. Thus, the synthesis/processing and study of the effect on the band gap, lifetime of carrier charge, and band edges relative to the redox potential in the development of high-performance photocatalysts for water treatment are critical. This review presents the basic physical principles of optical band gaps, their band gap tunability, potentials, and limitations in the applications for the water treatment. Furthermore, it reports recent advances in the synthesis process and comparatively examines the band gap effect in the photocatalytic response. In addition to the synthesis, the physical mechanisms associated with the change in the band gap have been discussed. Finally, the conclusions of this review, along with the current challenges of perovskites for photocatalysis, are presented.

A Study on Improving the Sensitivity of Indirect X-ray Detectors by Adding Hybrid Perovskite Quantum Dots

In this paper, we demonstrate the enhancement in detection sensitivity of an indirect X-ray detector based on poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and fullerene derivatives [6,6]-phenyl-C71-butyric acid methyl ester (PC71BM) by adding perovskite quantum dots (PeQDs). The weight ratio of P3HT and PC71BM was fixed at 1:1 (20 mg/mL in chlorobenzene), and different amounts of FAPbBr3 PeQDs of (0–3) mg were added to the P3HT:PC71BM active layer solution. The experimental results show that the detector using P3HT:PC71BM:FAPbBr3 PeQDs (1 mg) achieved a sensitivity of 2.10 mA/Gy∙cm2. To further improve the sensitivity, a ligand exchange experiment was performed on the P3HT:PC71BM:FAPbBr3 PeQDs (1 mg) detector. Under the condition of 12 h ligand exchange time, the detector with P3HT:PC71BM:FAPbBr3 PeQDs (1 mg) showed the highest sensitivity of 2.26 mA/Gy∙cm2, which was increased by 28% compared to the pristine detector with a P3HT:PC71BM active layer.

Photocatalysis and perovskite oxide-based materials: a remedy for a clean and sustainable future

The massive use of non-renewable energy resources by humankind to fulfill their energy demands is causing severe environmental issues. Photocatalysis is considered one of the potential solutions for a clean and sustainable future because of its cleanliness, inexhaustibility, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. Significant efforts have been made to design highly proficient photocatalyst materials for various applications such as water pollutant degradation, water splitting, CO2 reduction, and nitrogen fixation. Perovskite photocatalyst materials are gained special attention due to their exceptional properties because of their flexibility in chemical composition, structure, bandgap, oxidation states, and valence states. The current review is focused on perovskite materials and their applications in photocatalysis. Special attention has been given to the structural, stoichiometric, and compositional flexibility of perovskite photocatalyst materials. The photocatalytic activity of perovskite materials in different photocatalysis applications is also discussed. Various mechanisms involved in photocatalysis application from wastewater treatment to hydrogen production are also provided. The key objective of this review is to encapsulate the role of perovskite materials in photocatalysis along with their fundamental properties to provide valuable insight for addressing future environmental challenges.

Step-Scheme Photocatalyst of CsPbBr3 Quantum Dots/BiOBr Nanosheets for Efficient CO2 Photoreduction

Heterojunction manipulation has been deemed as a promising approach in exploring efficient photocatalysts for CO₂ reduction. In this article, a novel step-scheme (S-scheme) photocatalyst of CsPbBr₃ quantum dots/BiOBr nanosheets (CPB/BiOBr) was fabricated via a facile self-assembly process. The strong interaction, staggered energy band alignments, and much different Fermi levels between CsPbBr₃ and BiOBr promised the formation of an S-scheme heterojunction. The resultant CPB/BiOBr heterojunction delivered remarkable photocatalytic performance in CO₂ reduction, with an electron consumption rate of 72.3 μmol g^-1 h^-1, which was 4.1 and 5.7 times that of single CsPbBr₃ and BiOBr, respectively. The superior photocatalytic performance originated from the impactful spatial separation of photoinduced electron-hole pairs, as well as the preservation of strongly reductive electrons for CO₂ reduction. This work offers a rational strategy to design S-scheme heterojunctions based on lead halide perovskites, which are expected to have potential applications in the field of photocatalysis and solar energy utilization.

Modulating optical properties and interfacial electron transfer of CsPbBr3 perovskite nanocrystals via indium ion and chlorine ion co-doping

In this work, we demonstrated an in situ approach for doping CsPbBr₃ nanocrystals (NCs) with In³⁺ and Cl^- with a ligand-assisted precipitation method at room temperature. The In³⁺ and Cl^- co-doped NCs are characterized by the powder x-ray diffraction patterns, ultraviolet-visible, photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, time-resolved PL (TRPL), ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Based on PL and TRPL results, the non-radiative nature of In³⁺-doping induced localized impurity states is revealed. Furthermore, the impact of In³⁺ and Cl^- doping on charge transfer (CT) from the NCs to molecular acceptors was investigated and the results indicate that the CT at the interface of NCs can be tuned and promoted by In³⁺ and Cl^- co-doping. This enhanced CT is attributed to the enlarged energy difference between relevant states of the molecular acceptor and the NCs by In³⁺ and Cl^- upon co-doping. This work provides insight into how to control interfacial CT in perovskite NCs, which is important for optoelectronic applications.

Impacts of the Electron Transport Layer Surface Reconstruction on the Buried Interface in Perovskite Optoelectronic Devices

Using density functional theory combined with ab initio molecular dynamics, we comprehensively investigated the performance enhancement mechanism of the device after surface reconstruction by passivating different halogen groups (i.e., F or Cl) at the ETL/perovskite interface. We demonstrated that the halogen group at the ETL layer could stabilize the geometric structure of the perovskite surface by balancing the interfacial interaction, ionic migration, and lead iodide framework. Even though halogen passivation decreased and increased the interface charge transfer at the O- and SnO-terminated MAPbI₃/SnO₂ interfaces, respectively, halogen passivation optimized surface reconstruction and could theoretically relieve the interface carrier recombination according to the changes in conduction band offsets generated by halogen passivation. Furthermore, the interfacial carrier recombination of the MAPbI₃/SnO₂ interface was also connected to the interfacial gap states, which were smaller for O-terminated MAPbI₃/SnO₂ interfaces with halogen passivation-induced surface reconstruction but larger for the SnO-terminated cases. Hence, our findings have implications for the design of buried interface optimization in perovskite optoelectronic devices.

Photoelectrochemical aptasensor based on La2Ti2O7/Sb2S3 and V2O5 for effectively signal change strategy for cancer marker detection

In this item, a high-efficiency signal "on-off-on" strategy photoelectrochemical (PEC) apatsensor was resoundingly developed for target ultrasensitive analysis. Primarily, the heterojunction formation between Cd: Sb₂S₃ and La₂Ti₂O₇ was contributed to the first "signal-on" state to improve the stability of the PEC platform. Secondly, V₂O₅ nanosphere act as a catalyst for H₂O₂ was used to label on aptamer DNA to consume electron donor for achieving "signal-off" state. Then target analyte was modified on the surface of the PEC platform, and part of V₂O₅ with aptamer DNA would be released from the aptasensor surface, thus, the "signal-on" state was realized again. In this signal "on-off-on" strategy, the PEC performance of perovskite La₂Ti₂O₇ was effectively perfected with Cd: Sb₂S₃ sensitization, and broaden the application of perovskite in PEC sensor field. And the signal attenuation and recovery strategy were distinctly elevated the sensitivity of the aptasensor. In the preferred detection conditions, the proposed PEC sensor for analyte (PSA as an example) analysis revealed a wide sensing range from 1.000 × 10^-5 to 500.0 ng/mL, own a low detection limit of 4.300 fg/mL. This smart response change mode also provide prospect for other target detection, and offer a reference to signal transform for other electrochemical method.

Characteristics of multi-mode lasing in cesium lead bromide perovskite microwires with an isosceles right triangle cross-section

The CsPbBr₃ microwires with unique isosceles right triangle cross-sections are commonly observed via chemical vapor deposition method. In this work, we study the correlations between measured multi-mode lasing behaviors and the simulation of the mode patterns inside the triangular-rod microcavity. We confirm that lasing action with higher-order transverse modes can well sustain, even when these modes experience large optical loss due to the isosceles triangle cross-section. By comparing the experimental and simulation results, the higher-order transverse modes tend to show up prior to the fundamental transverse modes for wider microwires. We attribute this behavior to the nonuniform field distribution caused by the high absorption efficiency of CsPbBr₃. We also elaborate on the difficulties to sustain the whispering gallery mode in the CsPbBr₃ triangular-rod microcavity, which implies that the lateral dimension and geometry of the cavity should be considered carefully for the future design of low threshold wire-based laser devices.

Recognition and Selectivity Analysis Monitoring of Multicomponent Steroid Estrogen Mixtures in Complex Systems Using a Group-Targeting Environmental Sensor

The same class of steroid estrogen mixtures, coexisting in the environment of 17β-estradiol, estrone (E1), and ethinyl estradiol (EE2), have strong ability to disrupt the human endocrine system and are seriously prejudicial to the health of the organism and environmental safety. Herein, a highly sensitive and group-targeting environmental monitoring sensor was fabricated for a comprehensive analysis of multicomponent steroid estrogens (multi-SEs) in complex systems. This breakthrough was based on the highly sensitive photoelectrochemical response composite material CdSe NPs-TiO₂ nanotube and highly group-specific aptamers. The optimized procedure exhibited not only high sensitivity in a wide range of concentrations from 0.1 to 50 nM, indeed, the minimum detection limit was 33 pM, but also strong resistance to interference. The affinity and consistent action pockets of this sensor enable selective detection of multi-SEs in complex systems. It subsequently was applied for the analysis of multi-SEs from three real samples in the environment including medical wastewater, river water, and tap water to provide a means to clarify the fate of multi-SEs in the process of migration and transformation. This monitoring sensor has a brilliant application prospect for the identification and monitoring of the same class of endocrine-disrupting chemical mixtures in environmental complex systems.

Novel optoelectronic metal organic framework material perylene tetracarboxylate magnesium: preparation and biosensing

The pursuit for improving photoelectrochemical (PEC) performances of organic materials remains an urgent need. Here, we have proposed an envision of the preparation the metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with arenes to realize high photo-to-current conversion efficiency and excellent PEC performances. Magnesium 3,4,9,10-perylene tetracarboxylic acid metal-organic frameworks (Mg-PTCA MOFs) were synthesized for the first time. The uniformly distributed and regular-shaped Mg-PTCA MOFs showed a much more stable and higher photocurrent than the single PTCA and its derivatives, which confirmed our hypothesis. A regenerated-biosensor was designed for microRNA analysis based on Mg-PTCA MOFs as a novel photoelectric material, target-triggered three-dimensional DNA Scaffold (3D-Sca) as an efficient signal amplifier, and gold nanoclusters (Au NCs) as quencher. The elaborately designed biosensor achieved ultrasensitive detection for miRNA 21 with a dynamic range from 10 aM to 10 pM and a detection limit of 2.8 aM. This biosensor showed good analytical performance in the extracts of different cancer cells, indicating the possibility for early diagnosis, timely staging assessment, and accurate prognostic judgment for diseases. The recommendable performances of Mg-PTCA MOFs highlight the significance of organic MOFs in PEC sensing.

Current status on synthesis, properties and applications of CsPbX3(X = Cl, Br, I) perovskite quantum dots/nanocrystals

The quantum confinement effect and interesting optical properties of cesium lead halide (CsPbX₃; X = Cl, Br, I) perovskite quantum dots (QDs) and nanocrystals (NCs) have given a new horizon to lighting and photonic applications. Given the exponential rate at which scientific results on CsPbX₃NCs are published in the last few years, it can be expected that the research in CsPbX₃NCs will further receive increasing scientific interests in the near future and possibly lead to great commercial opportunities to realize these materials based practical applications. With the rapid progress in the single-photon emitting CsPbX₃QDs and NCs, practical applications of the quantum technologies such as single-photon emitting light-emitting diode, quantum lasers, quantum computing might soon be possible. But to reach at cutting edge of stable perovskite QDs/NCs, the study of fundamental insight and theoretical aspects of crystal design is yet insufficient. Even more, it has aroused many unanswered questions related to the stability, optical and electronic properties of the CsPbX₃QDs. Aim of the present review is to illustrate didactically a precise study of recent progress in the synthesis, properties and applications of CsPbX₃QDs and NCs. Critical issues that currently restrict the applicability of these QDs will be identified and advanced methodologies currently in the developing queue, to overcome the roadblock, will be presented. And finally, the prospects for future directions will be provided.

Robust and Flexible Random Lasers Using Perovskite Quantum Dots Coated Nickel Foam for Speckle-Free Laser Imaging

The advantage of using flexible metallic structures as the substrate of flexible lasers over plastic materials is its strong mechanical strength and high thermal conductivity. Here, it is proposed to deposit CsPbBr₃ perovskite quantum dots onto Ni porous foam for the realization of flexible lasers. Under two-photon 800 nm excitation at room temperature, incoherent random lasing emission is observed at ≈537 nm. By external deformation of the Ni porous foam, incoherent random lasing can be tuned to amplified spontaneous emission as well as the corresponding lasing threshold be controlled. More importantly, it is demonstrated that the laser is robust to intensive bending (>1000 bending cycles) with minimum effect on the lasing intensity. This flexible laser is also shown to be an ideal light source to produce a "speckle" free micro-image.

Perovskite Nanomaterial-Engineered Multiplex-Mode Fluorescence Sensing of Edible Oil Quality

Water-soluble fluorescence nanomaterials are widely applied for water-phase food safety monitoring. However, there is still a challenge for the development of oil-soluble fluorescence nanomaterials for oil-phase food safety detection. Particularly, the edible oil quality has a huge impact on human health, in which excessive acid number (AN), 3-chloro-1,2-propanediol (3-MCPD), and moisture content (MC) are critical monitoring factors. Herein, orange-emitting oil-soluble CsPbBr_1.5I_1.5 quantum dots (QDs) were prepared and applied for AN and 3-MCPD detection depending on fluorescence quenching and wavelength shifts. A "turn-off" fluorescence sensor and "wavelength-shift" fluorescence colorimetric sensor were fabricated for AN and 3-MCPD detection. Water-sensitive mesoporous silica-coated CsPbBr_1.5I_1.5 QDs were employed for the establishment of ratiometric fluorescence sensors for MC monitoring by introducing water-stable green-emitting CsPbBr₃ nanosheets (NSs) as reference probes. Perovskite nanomaterial-engineered multiplex-mode fluorescence sensors were proposed for the detection of AN, 3-MCPD, and MC in edible oil, with the limits of detection (LODs) of 0.71 mg KOH/g, 39.8 μg/mL 3-MCPD, and 0.45% MC, respectively. This work not only expands the application of perovskite nanomaterials in the bioanalysis field but also provides new materials and novel approaches for the multiplex-mode oil-phase food safety monitoring.

Surface Plasmon Resonance from Gallium-Doped Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles and Their Electromagnetic Enhancement Contribution to Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering

In recent years, semiconductor-based surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates have received considerable attention and led to a forefront in the SERS field. However, the lack of electromagnetic (EM) enhancement contributions highly precludes the development of semiconductive-substrate-based SERS. In this study, Ga-doped ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) were fabricated and employed as novel SERS substrates based on the EM enhancement contribution of surface plasmon resonance (SPR). The obtained Ga-doped ZnO NPs exhibited obvious SPR absorptions in the visible and near- and mid-infrared regions. SPR absorption can be readily tuned by changing the doping ratios of Ga³⁺ ions. The SERS spectra of Ga-doped ZnO/4-mercaptopyridine (MPy) were investigated at different excitation wavelengths of 488, 532, 633, and 785 nm. The spectral enhancement of Ga-doped ZnO substrates depended on the doping ratios, excitation wavelengths, and nearby SPR absorption. Ga-doped ZnO NPs with the highest free charge carrier density and the doping ratio of 5% showed the strongest SERS spectra. For the fixed doping ratio of 5%, the better is the match between excitation wavelengths and SPR absorption, the higher is the SERS spectral enhancement. This study showed the feasibility of EM contributions to SERS by using semiconductive substrates and can contribute to the development of the semiconductor-based EM mechanism.

Revealing the Aging Effect of Metal-Oleate Precursors on the Preparation of Highly Luminescent CsPbBr3 Nanoplatelets

Due to the ultrafast crystallization process in the triple-source ligand-assisted reprecipitation (TSLARP) technique the [L_yPbBr_x] octahedra is easily distorted, resulting in anisotropic two-dimensional nanoplatelets (NPLs) with low photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) and poor stability. Unexpectedly, we obtain CsPbBr₃ NPLs with PLQY approaching unity and high stability using the TSLARP technique through aging the metal-oleate precursors. We find that the significant enhancement of the PLQY is related to the change of solution chemistry of the Pb-oleate precursor in the aging process. While hybrid CsPbBr₃@Cs₄PbBr₆ NPLs with low PLQY (28%) are formed with fresh Pb-oleate precursor, phase-pure CsPbBr₃ NPLs with PLQY of 97.4% are obtained with the aged Pb-oleate precursor. A model that takes into account the transformation of the Pb-oleate in toluene from isolated molecules into clusters after aging is proposed to explain the phenomenon. Our finding highlights the importance of understanding the solution chemistry for the synthesis of the highly luminescent NPLs and provides a new way to break the "blue-wall" in perovskite light-emitting devices.

In situ growth of Z-scheme CuS/CuSCN heterojunction to passivate surface defects and enhance charge transport

Copper thiocyanate (CuSCN) has been considered as a promising hole transport material (HTMs), attributing to its inherent stability, low-cost, and suitable energy levels. To make it more attractive in practical applications, the drawbacks of CuSCN in poor charge transport and serious defect recombination are bottlenecks that need to be overcome. In this work, we propose an effective strategy of in-situ decorating CuSCN with copper sulfide quantum dots (CuS QDs), a simple one-step electrochemical deposition process, to solve these issues. Compared with the pristine CuSCN, the constructed Z-Scheme heterojunction of CuS QDs/CuSCN can significantly promote charge transport and restrict recombination. In addition, the decorated CuS QDs can not only passivate defects of CuSCN, but also provide more contacting sites to facilitate hole injection when employing as HTM. As a result, the average bulk charge lifetime was improved from 0.37 ms to 0.47 ms, and the surface recombination rate constant was suppressed. We believe that the excellent performances will pave it toward practical device applications, including solar cells, photocatalysis, photoelectrochemical sensors, and light-emitting diodes.

Recent Progress in Designing Halide-Perovskite-Based System for the Photocatalytic Applications

The halide perovskite material has attracted vast attention as a versatile semiconductor in the past decade. With the unique advantages in physical and chemical properties, they have also shown great potential in photocatalytic applications. This review aims at the specific design principles triggered by the unique properties when employing halide-perovskite-based photocatalytic systems from the following perspectives: (I) Design of photoelectrocatalytic device structures including the n-i-p/p-i-n structure, photoelectrode device encapsulation, and electrolyte engineering. (II) The design of heterogeneous photocatalytic systems toward the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and CO2 reduction reaction, including the light management, surface/interface engineering, stability improvement, product selectivity engineering, and reaction system engineering. (III) The photocatalysts for the environmental application and organic synthesis. Based on the analyses, the review also suggests the prospective research for the future development of halide-perovskite-based photocatalytic systems.

Electrocatalysis for CO2 conversion: from fundamentals to value-added products

This timely and comprehensive review mainly summarizes advances in heterogeneous electroreduction of CO₂: from fundamentals to value-added products.

Solvatochromic Photoluminescent Effects in All-Inorganic Manganese(II)-Based Perovskites by Highly Selective Solvent-Induced Crystal-to-Crystal Phase Transformations

The development of lead-free perovskite photoelectric materials has been an extensive focus in the recent years. Herein, a novel one-dimensional (1D) lead-free CsMnCl₃ (H₂ O)₂ single crystal is reported with solvatochromic photoluminescence properties. Interestingly, after contact with N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAC) or N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), the crystal structure can transform from 1D CsMnCl₃ (H₂ O)₂ to 0D Cs₃ MnCl₅ and finally transform into 0D Cs₂ MnCl₄ (H₂ O)₂ . The solvent-induced crystal-to-crystal phase transformations are accompanied by loss and regaining of water of crystallization, leading to the change of the coordination number of Mn²⁺ . Correspondingly, the luminescence changes from red to bright green and finally back to red emission. By fabricating a test-paper containing CsMnCl₃ (H₂ O)₂ , DMAC and DMF can be detected quickly with a response time of less than one minute. These results can expand potential applications for low-dimensional lead-free perovskites.

2D layered all-inorganic halide perovskites: recent trends in their structure, synthesis and properties

Recently, halide perovskites have appeared as a superior class of materials for diverse applications, mainly in optoelectronics and photovoltaics. Perovskite halides are broadly classified as hybrid organic-inorganic and all-inorganic analogues depending on the chemical nature of the A cation in the ABX3-type structure. Immense progress has already been achieved in halide perovskites focusing mainly on the hybrid equivalents and all-inorganic three-dimensional (3D) structures, however all-inorganic two-dimensional (2D) layered halide perovskites are relatively new and their nanostructures have gained significant attention in the last few years. In this minireview, we presented a discussion on the recently developed all-inorganic 2D layered halide perovskites highlighting their crystal structure, synthetic methodologies, chemical transformations, and optical properties. We have demonstrated a significant number of examples of Pb-free 2D halide perovskite nanostructures. Strategies for the shape-controlled synthesis of nanostructures and their excitonic properties are discussed in detail. Thermal conductivity and thermoelectric properties are emphasized along with the magnetic properties of layered transition-metal based perovskites. We have also mentioned the recent examples of all-inorganic 2D halide perovskites as photocatalysts for solar-driven CO2 reduction. Finally, we have concluded the article with an outlook for the further progress in 2D all-inorganic halide perovskites toward the structural diversity and prospective new applications.

Synthesis of Perovskite Nanocrystals and Their Photon-Emission Application in Conjunction With Liquid Crystals

Perovskite nanocrystals have attracted worldwide attention due to their outstanding optical versatility, high photoluminescence quantum yields, and facile synthesis. In this review, we firstly revisit the synthetic methods for perovskite nanocrystals (PNCs), including hot injection, anion exchange, solvothermal reaction, etc. In the meantime, we discuss effects of the different synthetic methods on the properties of PNCs, including the crystal size, emission spectral feature, quantum yield, etc., followed by several optimizing strategies. Finally, lasing and display applications of these PNCs in combination with liquid crystal materials are discussed thoroughly. Outlooks on the challenges and opportunities of these nanocrystalline materials in terms of adjunct applications with liquid crystals have been presented at the end, which are highly promising for next-generation light emission applications.

Optical control of terahertz plasmon-induced transparency based on hybrid CsPbBr3 quantum dot metasurfaces

Incorporating photosensitive material into structured metamaterials explores opportunities for dynamical operation across the terahertz functional devices, enabled by the efficient interaction between light and matter. In this work, the CsPbBr₃ quantum dots are incorporated into the metasurfaces, realizing the active control of the plasmon-induced transparency. In the experiment, the normalized modulation depth of transparency effect is up to 74%. Rigorous numerical and theoretical simulations verify that the variation of dynamic physical process is associated with the charge storage capacity in the capacitive metasurface. An observed phase advance and group delay indicate the hybrid metasurface is useful for slow light application. In addition, the simple process provides a convenient way for the development of terahertz functional devices.

Direct Z-Scheme 0D/2D Heterojunction of CsPbBr3 Quantum Dots/Bi2WO6 Nanosheets for Efficient Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction

Photocatalytic CO₂ reduction is an appealing approach to convert solar energy into high value-added chemicals. All-inorganic CsPbBr₃ quantum dots (QDs) have emerged as a promising photocatalyst for reducing CO₂. However, pristine CsPbBr₃ has a low catalytic performance, mainly due to severe charge recombination. Herein, a 0D/2D heterojunction of CsPbBr₃ QDs/Bi₂WO₆ nanosheet (CPB/BWO) photocatalysts is fabricated for photocatalytic CO₂ reduction. The CPB/BWO photocatalyst achieves excellent photocatalytic performance: the total yield of CH₄/CO is 503 μmol g^-1, nearly 9.5 times higher than the pristine CsPbBr₃. The CPB/BWO heterojunction also exhibits much-improved stability during photocatalytic reactions. On the basis of various characterization techniques, our investigations verified a direct Z-scheme charge migration mechanism between CsPbBr₃ QDs and Bi₂WO₆ nanosheets. The improved photocatalytic performance is originated from the high spatial separation of photoexcited charge carriers in CPB/BWO, which can also preserve strong individual redox abilities of two components. This work reports an efficient direct Z-scheme heterojunction photocatalytic system based on metal halide perovskites. The novel strategy we proposed may bring up new opportunities for the development of metal halide perovskite photocatalysts with greatly enhanced activities.

Review on Sensing Applications of Perovskite Nanomaterials

Recently, perovskite-based nanomaterials are utilized in diverse sustainable applications. Their unique structural characteristics allow researchers to explore functionalities towards diverse directions, such as solar cells, light emitting devices, transistors, sensors, etc. Many perovskite nanomaterial-based devices have been demonstrated with extraordinary sensing performance to various chemical and biological species in both solid and solution states. In particular, perovskite nanomaterials are capable of detecting small molecules such as O2, NO2, CO2, etc. This review elaborates the sensing applications of those perovskite materials with diverse cations, dopants and composites. Moreover, the underlying mechanisms and electron transport properties, which are important for understanding those sensor performances, will be discussed. Their synthetic tactics, structural information, modifications and real time sensing applications are provided to promote such perovskite nanomaterials-based molecular designs. Lastly, we summarize the perspectives and provide feasible guidelines for future developing of novel perovskite nanostructure-based chemo- and biosensors with real time demonstration.

Halide Pb-Free Double–Perovskites: Ternary vs. Quaternary Stoichiometry

In view of their applicability in optoelectronics, we review here the relevant structural, electronic, and optical features of the inorganic Pb-free halide perovskite class. In particular, after discussing the reasons that have motivated their introduction in opposition to their more widely investigated organic-inorganic counterparts, we highlight milestones already achieved in their synthesis and characterization and show how the use of ab initio ground and excited state methods is relevant in predicting their properties and in disclosing yet unsolved issues which characterize both ternary and quaternary stoichiometry double-perovskites.

Electrochemistry in Carbon-based Quantum Dots

Electrochemistry belongs to an important branch of chemistry that deals with the chemical changes produced by electricity and the production of electricity by chemical changes. Therefore, it can not only act a powerful tool for materials synthesis, but also offer an effective platform for sensing and catalysis. As extraordinary zero-dimensional materials, carbon-based quantum dots (CQDs) have been attracting tremendous attention due to their excellent properties such as good chemical stability, environmental friendliness, nontoxicity and abundant resources. Compared with the traditional methods for the preparation of CQDs, electrochemical (EC) methods offer advantages of simple instrumentation, mild reaction conditions, low cost and mass production. In return, CQDs could provide cost-effective, environmentally friendly, biocompatible, stable and easily-functionalizable probes, modifiers and catalysts for EC sensing. However, no specific review has been presented to systematically summarize both aspects until now. In this review, the EC preparation methods of CQDs are critically discussed focusing on CQDs. We further emphasize the applications of CQDs in EC sensors, electrocatalysis, biofuel cells and EC flexible devices. This review will further the experimental and theoretical understanding of the challenges and future prospective in this field, open new directions on exploring new advanced CQDs in EC to meet the high demands in diverse applications.