Stabilizing FASnI3-based perovskite light-emitting diodes with crystallization control

Abstract

The toxicity of lead presents a critical challenge for the application of perovskite optoelectronics. Lead-free perovskite solar cells were achieved with formamidinium tin iodide (FASnI₃) perovskites, exhibiting decent power-conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of up to 14%, with >98% of the initial PCE retained after 3000 h of storage. However, when employed in light-emitting applications, FASnI₃-based perovskite LEDs (PeLEDs) show limited stability, with T₅₀ lifetimes of up to 0.25 h at 10 mA cm⁻². Here, we improve the stability of FASnI₃-based PeLEDs through the inclusion of a two-dimensional precursor phenethylamine iodide (PEAI), allowing controlled crystallization of the mixed-dimensional perovskite emitters. The density of defects is found to be reduced, accompanied by the suppression of oxidation from Sn²⁺ to Sn⁴⁺. Using an optimized perovskite composition, we achieve an EQE of 1.5% (a ∼10-fold improvement over the control devices), a maximum radiance of 145 W sr⁻¹ m⁻², and a record-long T₅₀ lifetime of 10.3 h at 100 mA cm⁻² for FASnI₃-based PeLEDs. Our results illuminate an alternative path toward lead-free PeLED applications.