Lead-Free Antimony Halide Perovskite with Heterovalent Mn2+ Doping

Achieving Multicolor Emitting of Antimony-Doped Indium-Based Halide Perovskite via Monovalent Metal Induced Phase Engineering

Lead-free metal halide perovskites have attracted attention because of their excellent optical properties and nontoxicity. Here, we report the synthesis of Sb3+-doped indium halide perovskite Cs2InCl5·H2O:Sb3+ by an improved solution coprecipitation method. The treatment of the Sb3+-doped indium halide perovskite with selected monovalent cation halides led to Cs2MInCl6 (Ag+, K+, Na+) in different crystal structures or phases. Sb3+ has an isolated ns2 electron, and Sb3+-doped metal halide acts as the luminescence center and exhibits bright broadband emission that originated from self-trapped excitons. Under UV light excitation, these phosphors with different crystal structures emitted multicolored luminescence ranging from blue, green, yellow, and red depending on whether or not or which monovalent metal ion was used. The phosphor samples were used to print high-resolution 2D color barcodes for security and anticounterfeiting applications. The study presented here provides a new approach for the design and synthesis of lead-free metal halide perovskites with different crystal structures and unique optical properties.

Achieving a Record Scintillation Performance by Micro-Doping a Heterovalent Magnetic Ion in Cs3 Cu2 I5 Single-Crystal

An ultrabright, ultrafast, and low-cost ideal scintillator has been critically absent and is sorely desired in scintillation detection, but has hitherto not been found. Here, a high-quality bulk Cs3 Cu2 I5 :Mn single-crystal scintillator with ultrahigh light yield (≈95 772 photons per MeV, 137 Cs γ-rays), excellent energy resolution (3.79%, 662 keV), and ultrafast scintillation decay time (3 ns, 81.5%) is reported. In mechanism, it is found that micro-doping of a heterovalent magnetic ion (at the ppm level) can effectively modulate the luminescence kinetics of self-trapped excitons in the scintillator. Compared with previous reports, the introduction of trace amounts of magnetic Mn2+ (≈18.6 ppm) in Cs3 Cu2 I5 single-crystal shortens the scintillation decay time by several hundred times, transforming the slow decay into an ultrafast decay. Simultaneously, the light yield is also increased about three times to the highest value so far. From the comprehensive performance of the micro-doped Cs3 Cu2 I5 :Mn single-crystal, these excellent scintillation properties, physical characteristics suitable for practical applications, and low-cost advantages render this single-crystal an ideal scintillator with great potential for commercialization.

Mn2+ and Sb3+ Codoped Cs2ZnCl4 Metal Halide with Excitation-Wavelength-Dependent Emission for Fluorescence Anticounterfeiting

In recent years, there has been a growing demand for luminescence anticounterfeiting materials that possess the properties of environmentally friendly, single-component, and multimode fluorescence. Among the materials explored, the low dimensional metal halides have gained wide attention because of unique characteristics including low toxicity, simple synthesis, good stability, and so on. Here, we synthesized Mn2+ and Sb3+ codoped Cs2ZnCl4 single crystals by a facile hydrothermal method. Under 365 nm excitation, the codoped compound exhibits dual-band emissions at 530 and 730 nm. However, under 316 nm excitation, the compound only shows one emission band from 500 to 850 nm peaking at 730 nm, while under 460 nm excitation, the emission from 500 to 650 nm with an emission peak at 530 nm can be observed. Based on the study of the photoluminescence mechanism, the green and red emissions originate from the Mn2+ located in the tetrahedron and self-trapped exciton emission of [SbCl4]- clusters, respectively. Due to the zero-dimensional structure of the Cs2ZnCl4 host, there is minimal energy transfer between these dopants. Consequently, the luminous ratios of the two emissions can be independently regulated. Except by tuning the dopant concentrations, the Cs2ZnCl4:Mn2+, Sb3+ demonstrates excitation-wavelength-dependent properties, which could emit more than two colors with the change of excitation wavelength. As a result, multimode anticounterfeiting based on Cs2ZnCl4:Mn2+, Sb3+ crystals has been designed, which aligns with the requirements of environmentally friendly, single-component, and multimode fluorescence properties.

Synthesis and Photoluminescence Modulation of Cs4Cd1-xMnxBi2Cl12-Based Two-Dimensional Layered Double Perovskites

Two-dimensional (2D) layered double perovskites have attracted much attention because of their excellent photoelectric properties. However, few reports have been published on the synthesis of 2D layered double perovskites from halide perovskites as precursors. Here, we report that CsCdCl3 and Cs3Bi2Cl9 were synthesized by the coprecipitation method, and a two-dimensional layered double perovskite Cs4CdBi2Cl12 was readily synthesized by mixing the two halide perovskites. We doped different amounts of Mn2+ into CsCdCl3 to form CsCd1-xMnxCl3, which introduced impurity states into the energy level and exhibited an orange-red light emission that is characteristic of Mn2+. A series of 2D layered double perovskites Cs4Cd1-xMnxBi2Cl12 were synthesized from CsCd1-xMnxCl3 and Cs3Bi2Cl9, which showed a bright orange-yellow luminescence under ultraviolet excitation. The presence of high concentrations of Cd2+ in the two-dimensional layered double perovskites weakened the strong Mn-Mn coupling and suppressed the energy transfer to defects, thus minimizing nonradiative decay and promoting efficient energy transfer. Our work provides a new concept for the synthesis of low-dimensional metal halide perovskites with unique optical properties.

Unraveling the Defect-Dominated Broadband Emission Mechanisms in (001)-Preferred Two-Dimensional Layered Antimony-Halide Perovskite Film

By adding molar-controlled SbCl₃ in a Cs₃Sb₂Cl₉ precursor, we employed a low-temperature solution-processed approach to prepare high-quality (001)-preferred Cs₃Sb₂Cl₉ thin film, which demonstrates a stable defect-dominated broadband emission at room temperature. Density functional theory calculations reveal that the defect emission originates from the donor-acceptor pair (DAP) recombination between chlorine vacancy (V_Cl) and cesium vacancy (V_Cs). Furthermore, V_Cl + V_Cs DAP is more stable on the (001) surface. The improved film quality and the more stable V_Cl + V_Cs DAP increase the activation energy related to defect states, resulting in an enhancement of the defect emission for the high-quality (001)-preferred film. This work provides deep insight into the key role of the (001) surface in defect emission and a feasible strategy to enhance the defect emission in 2D halide perovskites A₃B₂X₉ (A = CH₃NH₃, Cs, Rb; B = Bi, Sb; X = Cl, Br, I) by control of the thin film preferred orientation.

Electronic Structures and Photoelectric Properties in Cs3Sb2X9 (X = Cl, Br, or I) under High Pressure: A First Principles Study

Lead-free perovskites of Cs₃Sb₂X₉ (X = Cl, Br, or I) have attracted wide attention owing to their low toxicity. High pressure is an effective and reversible method to tune bandgap without changing the chemical composition. Here, the structural and photoelectric properties of Cs₃Sb₂X₉ under high pressure were theoretically studied by using the density functional theory. The results showed that the ideal bandgap for Cs₃Sb₂X₉ can be achieved by applying high pressure. Moreover, it was found that the change of the bandgap is caused by the shrinkage of the Sb-X long bond in the [Sb₂X₉]^3- polyhedra. Partial density of states indicated that Sb-5s and X-p orbitals contribute to the top of the valence band, while Sb-5p and X-p orbitals dominate the bottom of the conduction band. Moreover, the band structure and density of states showed significant metallicity at 38.75, 24.05 GPa for Cs₃Sb₂Br₉ and Cs₃Sb₂I₉, respectively. Moreover, the absorption spectra showed the absorption edge redshifted, and the absorption coefficient of the Cs₃Sb₂X₉ increased under high pressure. According to our calculated results, the narrow bandgap and enhanced absorption ability under high pressure provide a new idea for the design of the photovoltaic and photoelectric devices.

Efficient Orange Emission in Mn2+-Doped Cs3Cd2Cl7 Perovskites with Excellent Stability

Low-dimensional metal halides are attractive for applications in photodetectors, solid-state lighting, and solar cells, but poor stability is an obstacle that must be overcome in commercial applications. Herein, we successfully synthesized a Ruddlesden-Popper (RP)-phased perovskite Mn²⁺:Cs₃Cd₂Cl₇ with high photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) and outstanding thermal and environmental stability by a solvothermal method. The pristine sample Cs₃Cd₂Cl₇ exhibits a weak cyan broad emission centered at 510 nm with a low PLQY of ∼4%. Once Mn²⁺ ions are introduced into the host lattice, a bright orange emission peaking at 580 nm with a high PLQY of ∼74% was achieved, which is attributed to the efficient energy transfer from the host to Mn²⁺ ions and thus results in the ⁴T₁ → ⁶A₁ radiation transition of Mn²⁺ ions. The photoluminescence (PL) intensity and environmental stability of Mn²⁺:Cs₃Cd₂Cl₇ can be further improved through A-site Rb alloying. Finally, an orange LED with outstanding color stability was fabricated on the basis of the Mn²⁺:Cs₃Cd₂Cl₇. Our work successfully elucidates that dopant plays an integral role in tailoring optical properties.

Self-trapped exciton emission in an Sn(II)-doped all-inorganic zero-dimensional zinc halide perovskite variant

The toxicity of Pb in conventional perovskites impedes the commercialization of their optoelectronic devices. Therefore, the search for comparable Pb-free perovskites is vital and needs urgent attention. Herein, for the first time, we successfully synthesize the Sn(II)-doped Pb-free zinc-based perovskite variant Cs₂ZnCl₄. The influence of doping is investigated both experimentally and theoretically. Broad bright red emission with a large Stokes shift is observed and attributed to the self-trapped exciton (STE) emission of the doped disphenoidal [SnCl₄]^2- units in the host matrix, from ³P₁ to ¹S₀. Temperature-dependent photoluminescence (PL) shows a peak split at cryogenic temperature, which is ascribed to the Jahn-Teller effect of the ³P₁ state. Theoretical study reveals that the impurity states of Sn²⁺ shrink the bandgap and localize the band edges, and distortion of [SnCl₄]^2- under excitation ultimately leads to the STE emission. This work is significant for STE emission studies and will pave a way for Pb-free perovskite variants in illumination applications.