Water resistant CsPbX3 nanocrystals coated with polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane and their use as solid state luminophores in all-perovskite white light-emitting devices

Stable, Scalable, and Free-Standing Perovskite Quantum Dots Composite Reinforced by Cellulose Fibers

Perovskite quantum dots (PQDs) have attracted emerging attention as fluorescent and light-absorbing materials for next-generation optoelectronics due to their outstanding properties and cost-efficiency. However, PQD thin film suffers significant instability due to structure and material failures, which hinders their application in flexible and reliable PQD-based advanced wearable devices. Herein, we use commercial cellulose fiber-based filter paper as a substrate to synthesize PQDs in situ and fabricate PQD-paper free-standing flexible composite film. The abundant hydroxy capping ligands of cellulose fibers and the unique dense network structure of the filter paper can facilitate confined crystallization, forming strong interactions between the PQDs and substrate, the unpackaged PQD composite film showed extraordinary stability (>30 days) in the air with high humidity (90%). Meanwhile, the strong interaction between PQDs and paper enables an ultrasimple drop-cast synthesis process with excellent process tolerance, making it customizable and easy to scale up (10 cm in diameter). Due to the uniformly dispersed PQDs on cellulose fibers of the substrate, the composite demonstrates impressive photo-responsive properties. Photodetector (PD) arrays were designed on free-standing PQD paper and flexible graphitic electrodes, and circuits were fabricated by drawing. The PD arrays can work as optical and electrical dual-mode image sensors with incredible bending robustness, enduring up to 100,000 cycles at 180°.

Surface defect mitigation via alkyl-ligand-controlled purification for stable and high-luminescence perovskite quantum dots

Perovskite quantum dots (PQDs) have received considerable attention as fluorescent materials due to their excellent optical properties. However, because PQDs contain ionic bonds, they have the disadvantage of being vulnerable to environmental conditions, so improving their stability is essential. Indeed, recent research has focused on improving both the stability and luminescence of PQDs by mixing them with methyl acetate (MeOAc) to suppress surface defects via purification. MeOAc reacts with the surface ligands of PQDs, resulting in ligand-controlled purification. However, while the ligands are limited for the PQD synthesis, the effect of ligand alkyl-chain length has not been reported. Therefore, we report herein a strategy for obtaining stable PQDs with tunable performances by using amine ligands of various chain lengths. The amine ligand is selected because it is very effective in interacting with the halide vacancies present on the surface of the perovskite crystal structure. The results indicate that MeOAc becomes less effective as the chain length of the ligand is increased, and more effective as the chain length is decreased. Consequently, PQDs treated with MeOAc and a short-chain ligand afford a quantum yield (QY) of 79.2% and are highly stable when exposed to thermal and ambient conditions. Therefore, we suggest a facile approach to suppressing the degradation of PQDs during the fabrication process.

Self-Trapped Exciton Emission in Highly Polar 0D Hybrid Ammonium/Hydronium-Based Perovskites Triggered by Antimony Doping

Various monovalent cations are employed to construct metal halide perovskites with various structures and functionalities. However, perovskites based on highly polar A-site cations have seldom been reported. Here, a novel hybrid 0D (NH4)x(OH3)3-xInCl6 perovskite with highly polar hydronium OH3+ cations is introduced in this study. Upon doping with Sb3+, hybrid 0D (NH4)x(OH3)3-xInCl6 single crystals exhibited highly efficient broadband yellowish-green (550 nm) and red (630 nm) dual emissions with a PLQY of 86%. The dual emission arises due to Sb3+ occupying two sites within the crystal lattice that possess different polarization environments, leading to distinct Stokes shift energies. The study revealed that lattice polarity plays a significant role in the self-trapped exciton emission of Sb3+-doped perovskites, contributing up to 25% of the Stokes shift energy for hybrid 0D (NH4)x(OH3)3-xInCl6:Sb3+ as a secondary source, in addition to the Jahn-Teller deformation. These findings highlight the potential of Sb3+-doped perovskites for achieving tunable broadband emission and underscore the importance of lattice polarity in determining the emission properties of perovskite materials.

Exceptional Stability against Water, UV Light, and Heat for CsPbBr3@Pb-MOF Composites

All-inorganic lead halide perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) have been widely applied in optoelectronic devices owing to their excellent photoluminescence (PL) properties. However, poor stability upon exposure to water, UV light or heat strongly limits their practical application. Herein, CsPbBr3@Pb-MOF composites with exceptional stability against water, UV light, and heat are synthesized by ultrasonic processing the precursors of lead-based MOF (Pb-MOF), oleylammonium bromide (OAmBr) and cesium oleate (Cs-OA) solutions at room temperature. Pb-MOF can not only provide the lead source for the in situ growth of CsPbBr3 NCs, but also the protective layer of perovskites NCs. The formed CsPbBr3@Pb-MOF composites show a considerable PL quantum yield (PLQY) of 67.8%, and can maintain 90% of the initial PL intensity when immersed in water for 2 months. In addition, the outstanding PL stability against UV light and heat is demonstrated with CsPbBr3 NCs synthesized by the conventional method as a comparison. Finally, a green (light-emitting diode) LED is fabricated using green-emitting CsPbBr3@Pb-MOF composites and exhibits excellent stability without packaging when immersed in water for 30 days. This study provides a practical approach to improve the stability in aqueous phase, which may pave the way for future applications for various optoelectronic devices.

Chemical Aspects of Halide Perovskite Nanocrystals

Halide perovskite nanocrystals (HPNCs) are currently among the most intensely investigated group of materials. Structurally related to the bulk halide perovskites (HPs), HPNCs are nanostructures with distinct chemical, optical, and electronic properties and significant practical potential. One of the keys to the effective exploitation of the HPNCs in advanced technologies is the development of controllable, reproducible, and scalable methods for preparation of materials with desired compositions, phases, and shapes and low defect content. Another important condition is a quantitative understanding of factors affecting the chemical stability and the optical and electronic properties of HPNCs. Here we review important recent developments in these areas. Following a brief historical prospective, we provide an overview of known chemical methods for preparation of HPNCs and approaches used to control their composition, phase, size, and shape. We then review studies of the relationship between the chemical composition and optical properties of HPNCs, degradation mechanisms, and effects of charge injection. Finally, we provide a short summary and an outlook. The aim of this review is not to provide a comprehensive summary of all relevant literature but rather a selection of highlights, which, in the subjective view of the authors, provide the most significant recent observations and relevant analyses.

SiO2-coated lead halide perovskites core-shell and their applications: a mini-review

Research on lead halide perovskites has demonstrated that they are one of the potential materials for optoelectronic and bio-related applications owing to their promising optical and electronic properties. However, their poor chemical stability in ambient environments is a critical factor that affects their practical applications. Silica is known for its excellent environmental/chemical stability and good optical properties. Therefore, SiO2-coated lead halide perovskites have been studied by introducing the protective layer containing SiO2 to prevent the rapid destruction of their surface chemistry and environmental degradation. It is found that lead halide perovskite core-shell can significantly improve the stability and preserve their high photoluminescence quantum yield. In addition, controlling the shell thickness is also important to produce effective and suitable inorganic halide perovskites core-shell for practical applications. This mini-review discusses the stability, synthesis method and applications of SiO2-coated lead halide perovskite core-shell. Furthermore, the effect of the SiO2 shell thickness on lead halide perovskite core-shell-based applications is also reviewed.

Photocatalysis Based on Metal Halide Perovskites for Organic Chemical Transformations

Heterogeneous photocatalysts incorporating metal halide perovskites (MHPs) have garnered significant attention due to their remarkable attributes: strong visible-light absorption, tuneable band energy levels, rapid charge transfer, and defect tolerance. Additionally, the promising optical and electronic properties of MHP nanocrystals can be harnessed for photocatalytic applications through controlled crystal structure engineering, involving composition tuning via metal ion and halide ion variations, dimensional tuning, and surface chemistry modifications. Combination of perovskites with other materials can improve the photoinduced charge separation and charge transfer, building heterostructures with different band alignments, such as type-II, Z-scheme, and Schottky heterojunctions, which can fine-tune redox potentials of the perovskite for photocatalytic organic reactions. This review delves into the activation of organic molecules through charge and energy transfer mechanisms. The review further investigates the impact of crystal engineering on photocatalytic activity, spanning a diverse array of organic transformations, such as C-X bond formation (X = C, N, and O), [2 + 2] and [4 + 2] cycloadditions, substrate isomerization, and asymmetric catalysis. This study provides insights to propel the advancement of metal halide perovskite-based photocatalysts, thereby fostering innovation in organic chemical transformations.

Encapsulation of CsPb2Br5 in TiO2 Microcrystals to Enhance Environmental Stability

All-inorganic lead halide perovskite has emerged as an attractive semiconducting material due to its unique optoelectronic properties. However, its poor environmental stability restricts its broad application. Here, a simple method for the fabrication of CsPb2Br5/TiO2 is investigated. The introduction of p-aminobenzoic acid, which has two functional groups, is critical for the capping of amorphous TiO2 on CsPb2Br5. After calcination at 300 °C, amorphous TiO2 crystallizes into the anatase phase. The CsPb2Br5/TiO2 NCs show high long-term stability in water and enhanced stability against ultraviolet radiation and heat treatment, owing to the chemical stability of TiO2. More importantly, photo-electrochemical characterizations indicate that the formation of TiO2 shells can increase the charge separation efficiency. Hence, CsPb2Br5/TiO2 exhibits improved photoelectric activity owing to the electrical conductivity of the TiO2 in water. This study provides a new route for the fabrication of optoelectronic devices and photocatalysts based on perovskite NCs in the aqueous phase. Furthermore, the present results demonstrate that CsPb2Br5/TiO2 NCs has considerable potential to be used as a photoelectric material in optical sensing and monitoring.

Hybrid Perovskite-Based Materials Modified with Polyhedral Silsesquioxanes-Structure and Properties

Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) and hybrid organo-halide perovskites are two important types of hybrid nanoscale frameworks with great potential in materials chemistry. Both are currently under intensive investigation for a wide range of possible applications. Recent results suggest that POSS can be attractive passivating and structure-controlling agents for perovskite materials. In this review, we present the importance of POSS in engineering the structures of inorganic cesium-halide perovskites CsPbX3 (X = Cl, Br, I) to create a new class of hybrid derivatives with improved properties. The combination of these two components can be an effective strategy for controlling the perovskite crystallization process. In addition, passivation of surface defects/bulk and the engineering of energy and optoelectronic properties of perovskite-based materials can be achieved following this method. In this minireview, we summarized the existing literature reports on the structural specificity and properties of hybrid POSS perovskites.

Strategies to Extend the Lifetime of Perovskite Downconversion Films for Display Applications

Metal halide perovskite nanocrystals (PeNCs) have outstanding luminescent properties that are suitable for displays that have high color purity and high absorption coefficient; so they are evaluated for application as light emitters for organic light-emitting diodes, light-converters for downconversion displays, and future near-eye augmented reality/virtual reality displays. However, PeNCs are chemically vulnerable to heat, light, and moisture, and these weaknesses must be overcome before devices that use PeNCs can be commercialized. This review examines strategies to overcome the low stability of PeNCs and thereby permit the fabrication of stable downconversion films, and summarizes downconversion-type display applications and future prospects. First, methods to increase the chemical stability of PeNCs are examined. Second, methods to encapsulate PeNC downconversion films to increase their lifetime are reviewed. Third, methods to increase the long-term compatibility of resin with PeNCs, and finally, how to secure stability using fillers added to the resin are summarized. Fourth, the method to manufacture downconversion films and the procedure to evaluate their reliability for commercialization is then described. Finally, the prospects of a downconversion system that exploits the properties of PeNCs and can be employed to fabricate fine pixels for high-resolution displays and for near-eye augmented reality/virtual reality devices are explored.

Mitigating halide ion migration by resurfacing lead halide perovskite nanocrystals for stable light-emitting diodes

Lead halide perovskite nanocrystals are promising for next-generation high-definition displays, especially in light of their tunable bandgaps, high color purities, and high carrier mobility. Within the past few years, the external quantum efficiency of perovskite nanocrystal-based light-emitting diodes has progressed rapidly, reaching the standard for commercial applications. However, the low operational stability of these perovskite nanocrystal-based light-emitting diodes remains a crucial issue for their industrial development. Recent experimental evidence indicates that the migration of ionic species is the primary factor giving rise to the performance degradation of perovskite nanocrystal-based light-emitting diodes, and ion migration is closely related to the defects on the surface of perovskite nanocrystals and at the grain boundaries of their thin films. In this review, we focus on the central idea of surface reconstruction of perovskite nanocrystals, discuss the influence of surface defects on halide ion migration, and summarize recent advances in resurfacing perovskite nanocrystal strategies toward mitigating halide ion migration to improve the stability of the as-fabricated light-emitting diode devices. From the perspective of perovskite nanocrystal resurfacing, we set out a promising research direction for improving both the spectral and operational stability of perovskite nanocrystal-based light-emitting diodes.

BSA-assisted ultrasound synthesis of water stable CsPbBr3 nanocrystals for sensitive fluorescent detection of hydrogen sulfide in human serum

A bovine serum albumin (BSA)-assisted ultrasonication strategy was developed for the synthesis of CsPbBr₃ nanocrystals (NCs) with stable fluorescence properties in aqueous solution. Such a preparation method is simple, fast and does not require complex equipment. The results show that the synthesized CsPbBr₃ NCs are homogeneous in particle size and have good solubility and stability in water. The CsPbBr₃ NCs have been utilized as fluorescence probe for rapid detection of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) in human serum. The reaction of H₂S with the lead sites on the surface of CsPbBr₃ NCs produces lead sulfide (PbS), resulting in the decrease of fluorometric intensity of CsPbBr₃ NCs. Our designed fluorescent assay has a linear S^2- detecting range of 10 ~ 800 nM with a detection limit of 7.05 nM. The assay was used to determine H₂S in human serum with spiked recoveries ranging from 94.98% to 102.69%. This work opens new avenues for the application of halide lead perovskite in different biosensing areas.

Suppressed Phase Separation of Mixed-Halide Perovskite Quantum Dots Confined in Mesoporous Metal Organic Frameworks

Mixed-halide perovskite quantum dots (PeQDs) are the most competitive candidates in designing solar cells and light-emitting devices (LEDs) due to their tunable bandgap and high-efficiency quantum yield. However, phase separation in mixed-halide perovskites under illumination can form rich iodine and bromine regions, which change its optical responses. Herein, we synthesize PeQDs combined with mesoporous zinc-based metal organic framework (MOF) crystals, which can greatly improve the stability of anti-anion exchange, including photo-, thermal, and long-term stabilities under illumination. This unique structure provides a solution for improving the performance of perovskite optoelectronic devices and stabilizing mixed-halide perovskite devices.

Engineering CsPbX3 (X = Cl, Br, I) Quantum Dot-Embedded Borosilicate Glass through Self-Crystallization Facilitated by NaF as a Phosphor for Full-Color Illumination and Laser-Driven Projection Displays

All inorganic perovskite (CsPbX₃, X = Cl, Br, I) quantum dot (QD) glass samples are considered the next generation of lighting materials for their excellent luminescence properties and stability, but crystallization conditions are difficult to control, which often leads to the inhomogeneous crystallinity of QDs. Here, we provided evidence that the presence of sodium fluoride induced self-crystallization of CsPbBr₃ QDs during routine glass formation without the need for additional heat treatment. We showed that NaF simultaneously affected the network structure of glass and promoted the formation of CsPbBr₃ QDs, that is, Na⁺ ions entered the glass network skeleton, partially interrupting the network structure, while the strong electronegativity of F^- ions attracted Cs⁺ and Pb²⁺ ions into the gaps formed in the glass networks that had been loosened up by Na⁺ ions, which reduced the activation energy of crystallization processes. Our results showed that NaF-induced CsPbBr₃ QDs glass had excellent thermal stability, high photoluminescence quantum efficiency (49%), and luminescent stability under high-power laser irradiation. Finally, this work also demonstrated the general applicability of this method in the making of a series of CsPbX₃ (X = Cl, Br, I) QD glass samples by NaF-induced self-crystallization, which drastically expanded the color gamut to a range of full spectrum for luminescence and laser-driven projection displays. We believe that the work presented here represents a new direction for the research and development of full-color gamut inorganic perovskite quantum dot glass samples, which could have a significant impact on the future applications of laser-driven projection displays as well.

Silica-Encapsulated Perovskite Nanocrystals for X-ray-Activated Singlet Oxygen Production and Radiotherapy Application

Multicomponent systems consisting of lead halide perovskite nanocrystals (CsPbX₃-NCs, X = Br, I) grown inside mesoporous silica nanospheres (NSs) with selectively sealed pores combine intense scintillation and strong interaction with ionizing radiation of CsPbX₃ NCs with the chemical robustness in aqueous environment of silica particles, offering potentially promising candidates for enhanced radiotherapy and radio-imaging strategies. We demonstrate that CsPbX₃ NCs boost the generation of singlet oxygen species (¹O₂) in water under X-ray irradiation and that the encapsulation into sealed SiO₂ NSs guarantees perfect preservation of the inner NCs after prolonged storage in harsh conditions. We find that the ¹O₂ production is triggered by the electromagnetic shower released by the CsPbX₃ NCs with a striking correlation with the halide composition (I₃ > I_3-x Br _x > Br₃). This opens the possibility of designing multifunctional radio-sensitizers able to reduce the local delivered dose and the undesired collateral effects in the surrounding healthy tissues by improving a localized cytotoxic effect of therapeutic treatments and concomitantly enabling optical diagnostics by radio imaging.

Effect of a-SiCxNy:H Encapsulation on the Stability and Photoluminescence Property of CsPbBr3 Quantum Dots

The effect of a-SiC_xN_y:H encapsulation layers, which are prepared using the very-high-frequency plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (VHF-PECVD) technique with SiH₄, CH₄, and NH₃ as the precursors, on the stability and photoluminescence of CsPbBr₃ quantum dots (QDs) were investigated in this study. The results show that a-SiCxNy:H encapsulation layers containing a high N content of approximately 50% cause severe PL degradation of CsPbBr₃ QDs. However, by reducing the N content in the a-SiCxNy:H layer, the PL degradation of CsPbBr₃ QDs can be significantly minimized. As the N content decreases from around 50% to 26%, the dominant phase in the a-SiCxNy:H layer changes from SiNx to SiCxNy. This transition preserves the inherent PL characteristics of CsPbBr₃ QDs, while also providing them with long-term stability when exposed to air, high temperatures (205 °C), and UV illumination for over 600 days. This method provided an effective and practical approach to enhance the stability and PL characteristics of CsPbBr₃ QD thin films, thus holding potential for future developments in optoelectronic devices.

Magnetically Tunable Spontaneous Superradiance from Mesoscopic Perovskite Emitter Clusters

Perovskite emitters are promising materials as next-generation optical sources due to their low fabrication cost and high quantum yield. In particular, the superradiant emission from a few coherently coupled perovskite emitters can be used to produce a bright entangled photon source. Here, we report the observation of superradiance from mesoscopic (<55) CsPbBr₃ perovskite emitters, which have a much smaller ensemble size than the previously reported results (>10⁶ emitters). The superradiance is spontaneously generated by off-resonance excitation and detected by time-resolved photoluminescence and second-order photon correlation measurements. We observed a remarkable magnetic tunability of the superradiant photon bunching, indicating a magnetic field-induced decoherence process. The experimental results can be well explained using a theoretical framework based on the microscopic master equation. Our findings shed light on the superradiance mechanism in perovskite emitters and enable low-cost quantum light sources based on perovskite.

Correlation between Single-Photon Emission and Size of Cesium Lead Bromide Perovskite Nanocrystals

Emission photon statistics of semiconductor nanocrystal quantum dots (QDs), including lead halide perovskite nanocrystals (PNCs), are important fundamental and practical optical properties. Single QDs exhibit high-probability single-photon emission owing to the efficient Auger recombination between generated excitons. Because the recombination rate depends on QD size, single-photon emission probability should be size-dependent. Previous studies have researched QDs smaller than their exciton Bohr diameters (twice the Bohr radius of excitons). Here, we investigated the relationship between the single-photon emission behavior and size of CsPbBr₃ PNCs to elucidate their size threshold. Simultaneous single-nanocrystal spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy observations on single PNCs with approximately 5-25 nm edge length showed that those smaller than approximately 10 nm, which had size-dependent photoluminescence (PL) spectral shifts, exhibited high-probability single-photon emissions, which decreased linearly with PNC volume. Novel single-photon emission, size, and PL peak correlations of PNCs are important for understanding the relationship between single-photon emission and quantum confinement.

Many-Body Correlations and Exciton Complexes in CsPbBr3 Quantum Dots

All-inorganic lead-halide perovskite (LHP) (CsPbX₃ , X = Cl, Br, I) quantum dots (QDs) have emerged as a competitive platform for classical light-emitting devices (in the weak light-matter interaction regime, e.g., LEDs and laser), as well as for devices exploiting strong light-matter interaction at room temperature. Many-body interactions and quantum correlations among photogenerated exciton complexes play an essential role, for example, by determining the laser threshold, the overall brightness of LEDs, and the single-photon purity in quantum light sources. Here, by combining cryogenic single-QD photoluminescence spectroscopy with configuration-interaction (CI) calculations, the size-dependent trion and biexciton binding energies are addressed. Trion binding energies increase from 7 to 17 meV for QD sizes decreasing from 30 to 9 nm, while the biexciton binding energies increase from 15 to 30 meV, respectively. CI calculations quantitatively corroborate the experimental results and suggest that the effective dielectric constant for biexcitons slightly deviates from the one of the single excitons, potentially as a result of coupling to the lattice in the multiexciton regime. The findings here provide a deep insight into the multiexciton properties in all-inorganic LHP QDs, essential for classical and quantum optoelectronic devices.

Combining π-Conjugation and Cation-π Interaction for Water-Stable and Photoconductive One-Dimensional Hybrid Lead Bromide

Hybrid lead halide perovskites and their derivatives are important optoelectronic materials but suffer from water instability. Combining both the optoelectronics and the water stability of such systems is a major challenge in material design today. To address this issue, we employ the well-known π-conjugation and cation-π interaction concepts in designing a hybrid lead halide perovskite derivative system. (4,4'-VDP)Pb₂Br₆ (VDP = vinylenedipyridinium) single crystals are prepared. They have a one-dimensional (1D) arrangement of inorganic Pb-Br sublattices connected via the 4,4'-VDP organic sublattice. The π-conjugation in the 4,4'-VDP sublattice allows electronic communication between the 1D Pb-Br units, reducing the band gap and improving the photoconductivity. Importantly, N⁺ of one 4,4'-VDP molecular ion interacts with the π-electron cloud of the adjacent one. This intermolecular cation-π interaction extends throughout the organic sublattice, making the hybrid crystal stable when stored under water for more than a year without requiring any encapsulations.

Ultra-Stable and Highly Efficient White Light Emitting Diodes through CsPbBr3 Perovskite Nanocrystals-Silica Composite Phosphor Functionalized with Surface Phenyl Molecules

Poor stability of CsPbBr₃ perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) to moisture/heat/light has significantly limited their application as a green phosphor, despite their outstanding luminescent properties. Here, a remarkably stable CsPbBr₃ NCs-silica composite phosphor functionalized with surface phenyl molecules (CsPbBr₃ -SiO₂ ^Ph ) is synthesized by controlling low-temperature hydrolysis and condensation reaction of perhydropolysilazane in the presence of CsPbBr₃ NCs followed by phenyl-functionalization. Through the process, CsPbBr₃ NCs are confined in a compact silica matrix, which is impermeable to H₂ O. The synthesis strategy is extended to a classical red quantum dot, CdZnSeS@ZnS NCs, to fabricate a white light emitting diode (WLED) consisting of CsPbBr₃ -SiO₂ ^Ph and CdZnSeS@ZnS-SiO₂ ^Ph phosphor and silicone resin packaged on a commercial blue InGaN chip with luminous efficacy (LE) of 9.36 lm W^-1 . The WLED undergoes enhancements in both green and red photoluminescence over time to achieve a highly efficient performance of 38.80 lm W^-1 . More importantly, the WLED exhibits unprecedented operational stability of LE/LE₀  = 94% after 101 h-operation at 20 mA (2.56 V). The ultra-high operational stability and efficient performance are mainly attributed to thermal curing and aging through which grain growth occurs as well as deactivation of defect states by permeated atmospheric O₂ .

Water-Triggered Chemical Transformation of Perovskite Nanocrystals

Recently emerged lead-halide perovskite nanocrystals (PNCs) are promising optoelectronic material due to their easy solution processability, wide range of color tunability, as well as very high photoluminescence quantum yield. Despite their significant success in lab-scale optoelectronic applications, the long-term stability becomes the main issue, hindering them towards commercialization. The highly ionic nature of such lead-halide structure makes them extremely unstable in water and air. But a very few groups have taken the advantage of such nature of the crystal structure for water-triggered chemical transformation towards shape, composition, and morphology controlled stable and bright PNCs, which are otherwise difficult to obtain by typical direct approach. Furthermore, using polymer as an encapsulating layer for the PNCs, water-soluble stable PNCs have been prepared. In this review, the recent progress on the water-hexane interface chemistry towards chemical transformation to produce several PNCs is described. Such method not only ensure to yield several shape-controlled perovskites nanocrystals, but also formation of perovskites in aqueous phase that show promising application towards bio-imaging.

Key Factors Affecting the Stability of CsPbI3 Perovskite Quantum Dot Solar Cells: A Comprehensive Review

The power conversion efficiency of CsPbI₃ perovskite quantum dot (PQD) solar cells shows increase from 10.77% to 16.2% in a short period owing to advances in material and device design for solar cells. However, the device stability of CsPbI₃ PQD solar cells remains poor in ambient conditions, which requires an in-depth understanding of the degradation mechanisms of CsPbI₃ PQDs solar cells in terms of both inherent material properties and device characteristics. Along with this analysis, advanced strategies to overcome poor device stability must be conceived. In this review, fundamental mechanisms that cause the degradation of CsPbI₃ PQD solar cells are discussed from the material property and device viewpoints. In addition, based on detailed insights into degradation mechanisms in CsPbI₃ PQD solar cells, various strategies are introduced to improve the stability of CsPbI₃ PQD solar cells. Finally, future perspectives and challenges are presented to achieve highly durable CsPbI₃ PQD solar cells. The investigation of the degradation mechanisms and the stability enhancement strategies can pave the way for the commercialization of CsPbI₃ PQD solar cells.

Ultrahigh Stability of Perovskite Nanocrystals by Using Semiconducting Molecular Species for Displays

The instability of perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) to moisture, heat, and blue light severely hinders their commercial applications in quantum dot displays. Here, organic semiconducting molecules are introduced onto CsPbBr₃ NCs, and the as-obtained CsPbBr₃ NCs have a high photoluminescent quantum yield (PLQY) of 82% and extremely high stability in harsh commercial accelerated operational stability tests (such as high temperature (85 °C) and high humidity (85%)). The products can survive and maintain more than 80% of the initial PL intensity value under high temperature, high humidity, and long-term blue light irradiation for hundreds to thousands of hours. They are among the most stable perovskite NCs and even superior to those encapsulated by inert shells and commercial green-emissive CdSe@ZnS quantum dots (QDs). The mechanism of the exceptional stability has been proposed, mainly including the strong interaction and moderate photocarrier transfer between the quasi type II heterostructure formed by the molecule and CsPbBr₃. By using these stable CsPbBr₃ NCs, a QD-enhanced liquid crystal display prototype has been successfully fabricated with a wide color gamut. This work provides understandings on the functionality of ligands in perovskite fields and a promising prospect in perovskite-based display technologies.

PVDF-directed synthesis, stability and anion exchange of cesium lead bromide nanocrystals

Photoluminescent perovskite nanocrystals are mostly used along with base materials such as polymers for material processing and large-scale production purpose. However, the role of polymer in crystal structure engineering and thereby dictating the emission properties of lead halide perovskite nanocrystals is poorly understood. First, we have developed a polymer-directed antisolvent method for synthesis of halide perovskite crystals at room temperature. The thermodynamic stabilities of crystals drive the formation of perovskite composite crystal of orthorhombic Cs4PbBr6 and monoclinic CsPbBr3. Surprisingly, hydrophobic polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) can reduce the size of perovskite crystals to nano dimensions even at room temperature. On the other hand, perovskite nanocrystals, CsPbBr3 synthesized by modified hot-injection method undergo rapid encapsulation in PVDF matrices. The size of the encapsulated nanocrystal in PVDF matrices ranges in 88 ± 32 nm. Three types of radiative recombination are predominantly operative in nanocrystals-doped polymer- surface defect caused radiative recombination (0.6 - 3 ns), exciton recombination (3 - 15 ns), and shallow trap assisted recombination (10 - 50 ns). The interface created at nanocrystal and polymer plays a decisive role in populating the shallow trap states in perovskite-polymer nanocomposite. These nanocrystals have been shown to undergo fast halide exchange in aqueous hydroiodic acid solution and possess remarkable enhancement of water-/photo-stability. This research would pave way for their greater use in hydrogen production and light-emitting devices.

On direct synthesis of high quality APbX3 (A = Cs+, MA+ and FA+; X = Cl-, Br- and I-) nanocrystals following a generic approach

Direct synthesis of APbX₃ [A = Cs⁺, methylammonium (MA⁺) or formamidinium (FA⁺) and X = Cl^-, Br^- or I^-] perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) following a generic approach is a challenging task even today. Motivated by our recent success in obtaining directly high-quality red/NIR-emitting APbI₃ NCs employing 1,3-diiodo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin (DIDMH) as an iodide precursor, we explore here whether violet/green-emitting APbCl₃ and APbBr₃ NCs can also be obtained using the chloro- and bromo-analog of DIDMH keeping in mind that a positive outcome will provide the generic protocol for direct synthesis of all APbX₃ NCs using similar halide precursors. It is shown that green-emitting APbBr₃ NCs with near-unity PLQY and violet-emitting CsPbCl₃ NCs with an impressive PLQY of ∼70%, mixed-halide NCs, CsPb(Cl/Br)₃ and CsPb(Br/I)₃, emitting in the blue and yellow-orange region with PLQYs of 87-95% and 68-98%, respectively can indeed be obtained employing the bromo- and chloro-analog of DIDMH. These NCs exhibit remarkable stability under different conditions including the polar environment. Femtosecond pump-probe studies show no ultrafast carrier trapping in these systems. The key elements of the halide precursors that facilitated the synthesis and the factors contributing to the excellent characteristics of the NCs are determined by careful analysis of the data. The results are of great significance because a direct method of obtaining highly luminescent and stable APbX₃ NCs (except violet-emitting hybrid NCs) is eventually identified and the work provides valuable insight into the selection of appropriate halide precursors for the development of superior systems.

Progress of Backlight Devices: Emergence of Halide Perovskite Quantum Dots/Nanomaterials

The technology behind the display is becoming ever more prevalent in our daily lives. It has many applications, including smartphones, tablets, desktop monitors, TVs, and augmented reality/virtual reality devices. The display technology has progressed drastically over the past decade, from the bulky cathode ray tube to the flat panel displays. In the flat panel displays, the liquid crystal display (LCD) and organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) are the two dominant technologies. Nevertheless, due to low stability and color tunability, OLEDs remain behind the LCDs. The LCD screen has a backlight, usually a white LED, which comprises a blue LED covered with a red and green enhanced layer (color-converting layers). Although InP/CdSe QDs attracted more attention due to their solution processability and better color gamut than the previous technologies, the complexity of their synthesis was still an obstacle to their commercialization. Later, the emergence of perovskite with highly intense and tunable PL emission, high color purity, and low-cost synthesis route attracted the attention of display researchers. Owing to the relatively higher performance of perovskite quantum dots (PQDs) than that of bulk (3D) perovskite in backlit display devices, these PQDs are being used for high color contrast and bright display devices. Furthermore, the color gamut for PQDs was observed as 140% of the NTSC standard, that is, close to that of the commercial OLED devices. In this review, we have discussed the progress of display technologies with a clear classification of the pros and cons of each technology. Also, the application of perovskite QD/nanomaterials in LCD backlit devices has been discussed, and the future direction of further improvement in their stability and performance has been listed.

Significant boost of the stability and PLQYof CsPbBr3 NCs by Cu-BTC MOF

Developing stable perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) with enhancing luminescent properties holds great importance for future potential applications in optoelectronics. Here, we engaged perovskite NCs in Cu²⁺ ion-based metal–organic framework (MOF) Cu-BTC (BTC = 1,3,5-benzene tricarboxylate) by physical mixing of MOF with CsPbBr₃ NCs in toluene solution. MOF-protected perovskite NCs achieved high photoluminescence quantum yield 96.51% than pristine state CsPbBr₃ NCs (51.66%). Along with the improvement in optical properties, the long-term stability of CsPbBr₃ NCs in the solution phase also increases considerably upon loading in Cu-BTC MOF. Moreover, the changes in the luminescent intensity of the samples have been observed for 3 months in the solution. After 1 month, pristine CsPbBr₃ NCs lose their emission intensity 68% from the initial, while the MOF-protected CsPbBr₃ NCs show only a 10% reduction from the initial. These results indicate that the effective passivation of Cu-BTC MOF inhibits the aggregation of NCs, protecting them from the defective atmosphere. The excellent photoluminescence findings provide a new pathway for future optoelectronic applications.

Room-Temperature, Highly Pure Single-Photon Sources from All-Inorganic Lead Halide Perovskite Quantum Dots

Attaining pure single-photon emission is key for many quantum technologies, from optical quantum computing to quantum key distribution and quantum imaging. The past 20 years have seen the development of several solid-state quantum emitters, but most of them require highly sophisticated techniques (e.g., ultrahigh vacuum growth methods and cryostats for low-temperature operation). The system complexity may be significantly reduced by employing quantum emitters capable of working at room temperature. Here, we present a systematic study across ∼170 photostable single CsPbX3 (X: Br and I) colloidal quantum dots (QDs) of different sizes and compositions, unveiling that increasing quantum confinement is an effective strategy for maximizing single-photon purity due to the suppressed biexciton quantum yield. Leveraging the latter, we achieve 98% single-photon purity (g(2)(0) as low as 2%) from a cavity-free, nonresonantly excited single 6.6 nm CsPbI3 QDs, showcasing the great potential of CsPbX3 QDs as room-temperature highly pure single-photon sources for quantum technologies.

White-emitting film of diblock copolymer micelles with perovskite nanocrystals

Perovskite nanocrystals are synthesized in diblock copolymer micelles to improve their processability and stability. The copolymer micelle approach allows fluorescence from a stretchable or flexible substrate by coating processes, and stable emission in water by protecting the nanocrystals in the micelles. Fluorescent films in three primary colors of blue, green, and red are also produced with the assistance of anion exchange reactions for perovskite nanocrystals in the micelles. Then, by stacking films in three primary colors, we are able to produce a white-emitting film of copolymer micelles containing only perovskite nanocrystals without the support of other kinds of emissive materials.

A white-emitting film is produced by stacking films in three primary colors of diblock copolymer micelles containing perovskite nanocrystals without the support of other kinds of emissive materials.

Quick preparation of water-soluble perovskite nanocomposite via cetyltrimethylammonium bromide and its application

A good water-soluble and stable nanocomposite has been facilely prepared by the encapsulation of CsPbBr₃ QDs via cetyltrimethylammonium bromide and mineral oil through sonication, namely CsPbBr₃@CMO nanocomposite. Such method is very quick and simple without complicated instruments and strict conditions. The results reveal that the synthesized CsPbBr₃@CMO nanocomposite is spherical with uniform size and shows remarkably good solubility and stability in water. Specifically, the fluorescent intensity of CsPbBr₃@CMO nanocomposite in water is decreased by 0.76% after 3 h; this result is comparable with those in earlier studies, and the good stability in water might be owned to the hydrophobic core of the CsPbBr₃@CMO nanocomposite. The prepared CsPbBr₃@CMO nanocomposite has been applied as a sensitive fluorescent probe for monitoring hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), and the fluorescence intensity (~ 524 nm) has a linear relationship with the concentration of H₂S in the range 0.15-105 µM with a detection limit of 53 nM, demonstrating application for monitoring H₂S in rat brain coupled with microdialysis apparatus with satisfied results. The present study not only provides a simple but sensitive approach for the detection of H₂S in living body, but also paves the way for expanding the application of CsPbBr₃ QDs to aqueous medium.

Wavelength-Tunable and Water-Stable Cesium–Lead-Based All-Bromide Nanocrystal–Polymer Composite Films Using Ultraviolet-Curable Prepolymer as an Anti-Solvent

All-inorganic metal halide perovskite nanocrystals (IPeNCs) have become one of the most promising luminescent materials for next-generation display and lighting technology owing to their excellent color expression ability. However, research on IPeNCs with stable blue emission is limited. In this paper, we report stable blue emissive all-bromide IPeNCs obtained through a modified ligand-assisted reprecipitation method using an ultraviolet (UV)-curable prepolymer as the anti-solvent at a low temperature. We found that the blue emission originates from quantum-confined CsPbBr3 nanoparticles formed together with the colorless wide-bandgap Cs4PbBr6 nanocrystals. When the temperature of the prepolymer was increased from 0 to 50 °C, CsPbBr3 nanoparticles became larger and more crystalline, thereby altering their emission color from blue to green. The synthesized all-bromide blue-emitting IPeNC solution remained stable for over 1 h. It also remained stable when it was mixed with the green-emitting IPeNC solution. By simply exposing the as-synthesized IPeNC–prepolymer solutions to UV light, we formed water-stable composite films that emitted red, green, blue, and white colors. We believe that this synthetic method can be used to develop color-emitting composite materials that are highly suitable for application as the color conversion films of full-color liquid crystal display backlight systems and lighting applications.

Poly acrylic acid-b-polystyrene -passivated CsPbBr3 perovskite quantum dots with high photoluminescence quantum yield for light-emitting diodes

We reported a novel strategy for the preparation of CsPbBr3 perovskite quantum dots by polyacrylic acid-b-polystyrene ligands, which exhibited high stability and photoluminescence quantum yields. The fabricated white light-emitting diodesexhibited...

Surface Chemistry Engineering of Perovskite Quantum Dots: Strategies, Applications, and Perspectives

The presence of surface ligands not only plays a key role in keeping the colloidal integrity and non-defective surface of metal halide perovskite quantum dots (PQDs), but also serves as a knob to tune their optoelectronic properties for a variety of exciting applications including solar cells and light-emitting diodes. However, these indispensable surface ligands may also deteriorate the stability and key properties of PQDs due to their highly dynamic binding and insulating nature. To address these issues, a number of innovative surface chemistry engineering approaches have been developed in the past few years. Based on an in-depth fundamental understanding of the surface atomistic structure and surface defect formation mechanism in the tiny nanoparticles, a critical overview focusing on the surface chemistry engineering of PQDs including advanced colloidal synthesis, in-situ surface passivation, and solution-phase/solid-state ligand exchange is presented, after which their unprecedented achievements in photovoltaics and other optoelectronics are presented. The practical hurdles and future directions are critically discussed to inspire more rational design of PQD surface chemistry toward practical applications.

Recent Advances in Synthesis, Properties, and Applications of Metal Halide Perovskite Nanocrystals/Polymer Nanocomposites

Metal halide perovskite nanocrystals (PNCs) have recently garnered tremendous research interest due to their unique optoelectronic properties and promising applications in photovoltaics and optoelectronics. Metal halide PNCs can be combined with polymers to create nanocomposites that carry an array of advantageous characteristics. The polymer matrix can bestow stability, stretchability, and solution-processability while the PNCs maintain their size-, shape- and composition-dependent optoelectronic properties. As such, these nanocomposites possess great promise for next-generation displays, lighting, sensing, biomedical technologies, and energy conversion. The recent advances in metal halide PNC/polymer nanocomposites are summarized here. First, a variety of synthetic strategies for crafting PNC/polymer nanocomposites are discussed. Second, their array of intriguing properties is examined. Third, the broad range of applications of PNC/polymer nanocomposites is highlighted, including light-emitting diodes (LEDs), lasers, and scintillators. Finally, an outlook on future research directions and challenges in this rapidly evolving field are presented.

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.

Room-Temperature Synthesis of Air-Stable Near-Infrared Emission in FAPbI3 Nanoparticles Embedded in Silica

Hybrid organic-inorganic and all-inorganic metal halide perovskite nanoparticles (PNPs) have shown their excellent characteristics for optoelectronic applications. We report an atmospheric process to embed formamidinium CH(NH2)2PbI3 (FAPbI3) PNPs in silica protective layer at room temperature (approximately 26 °C) employing (3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES). The resulting perovskite nanocomposite (PNCs) achieved a high photoluminescence (PL) quantum yield of 58.0% and good stability under atmospheric moisture conditions. Moreover, the PNCs showed high PL intensity over 1 month of storage (approximately 26 °C) and more than 380 min of PNCs solutions in DI water. The studied near-infrared (NIR) light-emitting diode (LED) combined a NIR-emitting PNCs coating and a blue InGaN-based chip that exhibited a 788 nm electroluminescence spectrum of NIR-LEDs under 2.6 V. This may be a powerful tool to track of muscle and disabled patients in the detection of a blood vessel.

One-Pot Synthesis and Structural Evolution of Colloidal Cesium Lead Halide-Lead Sulfide Heterostructure Nanocrystals for Optoelectronic Applications

Heterostructures, combining perovskite nanocrystals (PNC) and chalcogenide quantum dots, could pave a path to optoelectronic device applications by enabling absorption in the near-infrared region, tailorable electronic properties, and stable crystal structures. Ideally, the heterostructure host material requires a similar lattice constant as the guest which is also constrained by the synthesis protocol and materials selectivity. Herein, we present an efficient one-pot hot-injection method to synthesize colloidal all-inorganic cesium lead halide-lead sulfide (CsPbX₃ (X = Cl, Br, I)-PbS) heterostructure nanocrystals (HNCs) via the epitaxial growth of the perovskite onto the presynthesized PbS nanocrystals (NCs). Optical and structural characterization evidenced the formation of heterostructures. The embedding of PbS NCs into CsPbX₃ perovskite allows the tuning of the absorption and emission from 400 to 1100 nm by tuning the size and composition of perovskite HNCs. The CsPbI₃-PbS HNCs show enhanced stability in ambient conditions. The stability, tunable optical properties, and variable band alignments accessible in this system would have implications in the design of novel optoelectronic applications such as light-emitting diodes, photodetectors, photocatalysis, and photovoltaics.

Halide Perovskite Nanocrystals with Enhanced Water Stability for Upconversion Imaging in a Living Cell

Halide perovskite nanomaterials are widely used in optoelectronics and photonics due to their outstanding luminescent properties, whereas their strong multiphoton absorption makes them prospective for bioimaging. Nonetheless, instability of perovskites in aqueous solutions is an important limitation that prevents their application in biology and medicine. Here, we demonstrate fluorescence and upconversion imaging in living cells by employing CsPbBr₃ nanocrystals (NCs) that show an improved water-resistance (at least for 24 h) after their coating as individual particles with various silica-based shells. The obtained phTEOS-TMOS@CsPbBr₃ NCs possess high quality, which we confirm with high-resolution transmission and scanning transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, Fourier-transform infrared and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopies, as well as with fluorescence optical microscopy. The developed platform can make the halide perovskite NCs suitable for various bioimaging applications.

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.

Water-assisted preparation of ethanol-dispersed CsPbBr3 perovskite nanocrystals and emissive gel

Cesium lead halide perovskite nanocrystals (PNCs) are highly attractive for optoelectronic applications due to their tunable bandgap, large absorption cross section and efficient photoluminescence. However, the dynamic ligand binding and ionic lattice make PNCs extremely sensitive to polar solvents, which greatly hinders the applications of PNCs. In this work, we first synthesize ethanol-dispersed PNCs with the assistance of water using glycyrrhizic acid (GA) as the sole capping ligand. The prepared PNCs with a mean size of 14.5 nm exhibit a narrow and symmetric emission band (full width at half maximum: 18 nm) and photoluminescence (PL) quantum yield (QY) of ~38.1%. Different with the common sense, the addition of water promotes the formation of GA-passivated PNCs due to the accelerated reaction rate of precursors and the H⁺ dissociation of GA at presence of Lewis base water. Furthermore, the ethanol-dispersed PNCs can be further transformed into emissive ethanol gels with improved stability. Our findings provide a novel strategy to achieve stable colloidal PNCs in polar solvents.