Abstract
Perovskite quantum dots (PeQDs) endowed with capping ligands exhibit impressive optoelectronic properties and enable for cost-efficient solution processing and exciting application opportunities. We synthesize and characterize three different PeQDs with the same cubic CsPbBr3 core, but which are distinguished by the ligand composition and density. PeQD-1 features a binary didodecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDAB) and octanoic acid capping ligand system, with a high surface density of 1.53 nm−2, whereas PeQD-2 and PeQD-3 are coated by solely DDAB at a gradually lower surface density. We show that PeQD-1 endowed with highest ligand density features the highest dispersibility in toluene of 150 g/L, the highest photoluminescence quantum yield of 95% in dilute solution and 59% in a neat film, and the largest core-to-core spacing in neat thin films. We further establish that ions are released from the core of PeQD-1 when it is exposed to an electric field, although it comprises a dense coating of one capping ligand per four surface core atoms. We finally exploit these combined findings to the development of a light-emitting electrochemical cell (LEC), where the active layer is composed solely of solution-processed pure PeQDs, without additional electrolytes. In this device, the ion release is utilized as an advantage for the electrochemical doping process and efficient emissive operation of the LEC.
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Acknowledgements
The authors acknowledge generous support from J. C. Kempes Minnes Stipendiefond (No. SMK-1849.1, 21-0015), the Swedish Energy Agency (Nos. 45419-1, 46523-1, and 50779-1), the Swedish Research Council (Nos. 2018-03937, 2019-02345, and 202004437), the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research, Stiftelsen Olle Engkvist Byggmästare (Nos. 186-0637 and 193-0578), Bertil & Britt Svenssons stiftelse för belysningsteknik, the Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research, Higher Education via an Initiation Grant for Internationalization (No. 2019-8553), Innovation Technology Platform Project Jointly Built by Yangzhou City and Yangzhou University, China (No. YZ2020268), and Jiangsu Students’ Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program (No. 202211117040Z). We gratefully acknowledge Cheng Choo L. for SEM, energy dispersive spectroscopy, and TEM characterization and helpful discussion, Andras G. for FTIR measurement, Andrey S. for the XPS measurement, and Roushdey S. for assistance with the XRD measurement.
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The influence of the capping ligands on the optoelectronic performance, morphology, and ion liberation of CsPbBr3 perovskite quantum dots
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Liu, Y., Tang, S., Gao, Z. et al. The influence of the capping ligands on the optoelectronic performance, morphology, and ion liberation of CsPbBr3 perovskite quantum dots. Nano Res. 16, 10626–10633 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-023-5589-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-023-5589-y