Time-resolved luminescence study of self-trapped-exciton relaxation in quasi-one-dimensional halogen-bridged mixed-valence metal complexes

Structural Phase Transition in 0D (3,5-DMP)2Bi1-xSbxCl5 Metal Halides: Expression of the Lone Pair Effect and Polyhedral Distortion

Low-dimensional Bi/Sb-based organic-inorganic metal halides (OIMHs) have attracted immense attention from the research community because of their structural diversity and efficient luminescence properties. Further understanding of the relationship between the structure and luminescence properties of these materials is of utmost importance for tuning the luminescence properties for various practical applications. Herein, we have synthesized two lead-free Bi/Sb-based novel OIMHs, (3,5-DMP)2BiCl5 and (3,5-DMP)2SbCl5 [(3,5-DMP) = 3,5-dimethylpiperidine], with zero-dimensional (0D) structures and crystallizing in triclinic (P1 ¯ space group) and monoclinic (P21/c space group) crystal systems, respectively. Both the compounds behave as typical semiconductors with indirect optical band gaps of 3.34 and 3.36 eV for pristine Bi and Sb compounds. These compounds exhibit higher environmental and thermal stability at ambient conditions. Gradual substitution of Sb at the Bi site in (3,5-DMP)2Bi1-xSbxCl5 resulted in the introduction of structural strain due to the significant expression of the lone pair effect, thus leading to a structural transition from the triclinic to monoclinic phase. The effect of the structural phase transition on the optical properties is also studied in (3,5-DMP)2Bi1-xSbxCl5. This work may offer new direction and guidance for exploring various 0D hybrid metal halides and tuning the structures for improvement in the luminescence properties.

RGB tri-luminescence in organic-inorganic zirconium halide perovskites

Materials with two or more fluorescence features under different excitation sources have great potential in optical applications, but luminous materials with three emission characteristics have been largely undeveloped. Here, we report a novel zero-dimensional (0D) organic-inorganic hybrid ((C2H5)4N)2ZrCl6 perovskite with multiple emissions. The zirconium-based perovskite exhibits a red emission around 620 nm, a green emission at 527 nm, and a blue emission around 500 nm. The red and green emissions come from self-trapped excitons (STEs) and the d-d transitions of Zr(iv), respectively, which are caused by distortion of the [ZrCl6]2- octahedra. The blue emission is caused by thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF), which is similar to that of Cs2ZrCl6. The absolute photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of the red and blue double emission is up to 83% and the PLQY of the green emission is 27%. With different combinations of ((C2H5)4N)2ZrCl6 samples, we achieve a variety of applications, including a two-color luminescent anti-counterfeiting device, a white light-emitting diode (WLED) with a color rendering index (CRI) of 95 and information encryption with different excitations. We also synthesize other hybrid zirconium perovskites with tri-luminescence through a similar method. Our work provides a potential set of excitation-dependent luminescent materials and is expected to expand the basic research and practical applications of multi-luminescence materials.

One-Dimensional Hybrid Copper(I) Iodide Single Crystal with Renewable Scintillation Properties

Low-dimensional hybrid copper(I) halides attract considerable attention in the field of light emissions. In this work, we obtained the centimeter-sized single crystal of 1,3-propanediamine copper(I) iodide (PDACuI₃) with a solvent evaporation method. The single crystal X-ray diffraction of PDACuI₃ reveals that the [CuI₄] tetrahedra form the corner-connected chains separated by PDAs, forming a one-dimensional structure with an orthorhombic space group of Pbca. The band gap is determined to be 4.03 eV, and the room temperature photoluminescence (PL) quantum yield is determined to be 26.5%. The thermal quenching and negative thermal quenching of emission are observed via temperature-dependent PL spectra, and our study shows that the intermediate nonradiative state below the self-trapped exciton state may get involved in these temperature-dependent behaviors. The X-ray scintillation performance of PDACuI₃ single crystals is also evaluated, and the relative light output renewed to 94.3% of the fresh one after a low-temperature annealing. On the basis of our results, PDACuI₃ single crystals provide nontoxicity and renewable scintillation performance, thus showing potential application in the area of low-cost radiation detectors.

Temperature-Dependent Luminescence and Anisotropic Optical Properties of Centimeter-Sized One-Dimensional Perovskite Trimethylammonium Lead Iodide Single Crystals

Low-dimensional hybrid halide perovskite materials with self-trapped exciton (STE) emissions and anisotropic properties are highly attractive for their great potential in many applications. However, to date, reports on large one-dimensional (1D) perovskite single crystals have been limited. Here, centimeter-sized 1D single crystals of trimethylammonium lead iodide (TMAPbI₃) with typical STE emission are synthesized by an antisolvent vapor-assisted crystallization method. Thermal quenching and antiquenching with a high relative sensitivity of photoluminescence (PL) are observed and studied via temperature-dependent photoluminescence spectroscopy. Further analysis indicates that the temperature-dependent PL behaviors are influenced by the self-trapping of the free exciton and the migrations between self-trapped excitons and intermediate nonradiative states. The TMAPbI₃ single crystal also exhibits a linearly polarized emission and a large birefringence that is higher than those of commercial birefringent crystals. This 1D perovskite with high structural anisotropy has promise for applications in versatile optical- and luminescence-related fields.

Exciton Self-Trapping Dynamics in 1D Perovskite Single Crystals: Effect of Quantum Tunnelling

We present experimental and theoretical investigations of the photophysics in the one-dimensional (1D) hybrid organic-inorganic perovskite (HOIP) white-light emitter, [DMEDA]PbBr₄. It is found that the broadband-emission nature of the 1D perovskite is similar to the case of two-dimensional (2D) HOIP materials, exciton self-trapping (ST) is the dominant mechanism. By comprehensive spectroscopic investigations, we observed direct evidence of exciton crossing the energy barrier separating free and ST states through quantum tunnelling. Moreover, we consider the lattice shrinking mechanisms at low temperatures and interpret the ST exciton formation process using a configuration coordinate diagram. We propose that the energy barrier separating free and ST excitons is temperature-dependent, and consequently, the manner of excitons crossing it is highly dependent on the exciting energy and temperature. For excitons located at the bottom of the free excitonic states, the quantum tunnelling is the dominant channel to the ST states.

Recent progress of zero-dimensional luminescent metal halides

This review provides in-depth insight into the structure–luminescence–application relationship of 0D all-inorganic/organic–inorganic hybrid metal halide luminescent materials.

Self-Trapped Excitons in All-Inorganic Halide Perovskites: Fundamentals, Status, and Potential Applications

Photoluminescence is a radiative recombination process of electron-hole pairs. Self-trapped excitons (STEs), occurring in a material with soft lattice and strong electron-phonon coupling, emit photons with broad spectrum and large Stokes shift. Recently, series halide perovskites with efficient STE emission have been reported and showed promise for solid-state lighting. In this Perspective, we present an overview of various photoluminescence phenomena with the emphasis on the mechanism and characteristics of emission derived from STEs. This is followed by the introduction of STE emission in hybrid halide perovskites. We then introduce all-inorganic STE emitters and focus in particular on the mechanism of STEs in double-perovskite Cs₂AgInCl₆ and strategies for efficiency improvement. Finally, we summarize the current photoluminescence and electroluminescence applications of STE emitters as well as the potential in luminescent solar concentrators and provide an overview of future research opportunities.

Mechanism for Broadband White-Light Emission from Two-Dimensional (110) Hybrid Perovskites

The recently discovered phenomenon of broadband white-light emission at room temperature in the (110) two-dimensional organic-inorganic perovskite (N-MEDA)[PbBr4] (N-MEDA = N(1)-methylethane-1,2-diammonium) is promising for applications in solid-state lighting. However, the spectral broadening mechanism and, in particular, the processes and dynamics associated with the emissive species are still unclear. Herein, we apply a suite of ultrafast spectroscopic probes to measure the primary events directly following photoexcitation, which allows us to resolve the evolution of light-induced emissive states associated with white-light emission at femtosecond resolution. Terahertz spectra show fast free carrier trapping and transient absorption spectra show the formation of self-trapped excitons on femtosecond time-scales. Emission-wavelength-dependent dynamics of the self-trapped exciton luminescence are observed, indicative of an energy distribution of photogenerated emissive states in the perovskite. Our results are consistent with photogenerated carriers self-trapped in a deformable lattice due to strong electron-phonon coupling, where permanent lattice defects and correlated self-trapped states lend further inhomogeneity to the excited-state potential energy surface.

Tuning of Charge Density Wave Strengths by Competition between Electron-Phonon Interaction of Pd(II)-Pd(IV) Mixed-Valence States and Electron Correlation of Ni(III) States in Quasi-One-Dimensional Bromo-Bridged Ni-Pd Mixed-Metal MX Chain Compounds Ni(1)(-)(x)()Pd(x)()(chxn)(2)Br(3)

A series of single crystals of quasi-one-dimensional bromo-bridged Ni-Pd mixed-metal MX chain compounds Ni(1)(-)(x)()Pd(x)()(chxn)(2)Br(3) (chxn = 1(R),2(R)-diaminocyclohexane) have been obtained by electrochemical oxidation methods of the mixed methanol solutions of parent Ni(II) complex [Ni(chxn)(2)]Br(2) and Pd(II) complex [Pd(chxn)(2)]Br(2) with various mixing ratios. To investigate the competition between the electron correlation of the Ni(III) states (or spin density wave states) and the electron-phonon interaction of the Pd(II)-Pd(IV) mixed-valence states (or charge density wave states) in the Ni-Pd mixed-metal compounds, IR, Raman, ESR, XP, and Auger spectra have been measured. The IR, resonance Raman, XP, and Auger spectra show that the Pd(II)-Pd(IV) mixed-valence states are influenced and gradually approach the Pd(III) states with the increase of the Ni(III) components. This means that in these compounds the electron-phonon interaction in the Pd(II)-Pd(IV) mixed-valence states is weakened with the strong electron correlation in the Ni(III) states.

Tuning of Spin Density Wave Strengths in Quasi-One-Dimensional Halogen-Bridged Ni(III) Complexes with Strong Electron Correlations, [Ni(III)(chxn)(2)X]Y(2)

A series of quasi-one-dimensional halogen-bridged Ni(III) complexes, [Ni(chxn)(2)X]Y(2) (chxn = 1R,2R-diaminocyclohexane; X = Cl, Br, and mixed halides; Y = Cl, Br, mixed halides, NO(3), BF(4), and ClO(4)) have been synthesized in order to investigate the effect of the bridging halogens and counteranions on their crystal, electronic structures, and moreover the spin density wave strengths. In the crystal structures, the [Ni(chxn)(2)] moieties are symmetrically bridged by halogen ions, forming linear-chain Ni(III)-X-Ni(III) structures. The hydrogen bonds between the aminohydrogens of chxn and the counteranions are constructed not only along the chains but also over the chains, forming the two-dimensional hydrogen-bond networks. While the Ni(III)-X-Ni(III) distances or b axes are almost constant in the compounds with the same bridging halogens, the c axes which correspond to the interchain distances in the directions of the interchain hydrogen bonds are remarkably lengthened with the increase of the ionic radius of the counterions; X < NO(3) < BF(4) < ClO(4). These compounds show the very strong antiferromagnetic interactions among spins on Ni 3d(z)2 orbitals through the superexchange mechanisms via the bridging halogen ions. Judging from the results of X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS), Auger spectra, and single-crystal reflectance spectra, these Ni compounds are not Mott-insulators but charge-transfer-insulators. Their electronic structures or the spin density wave strengths are found to be tuned by the combinations of the counteranions and the bridging halogens.