Highly luminescent and stable quasi-2D perovskite quantum dots by introducing large organic cations

Abstract

Herein, ultra-stable quasi-two-dimensional perovskite quantum dots (quasi-2D PQDs) are synthesized by introducing the butylamine cation (BA⁺) into the methylamine lead bromide perovskite (MAPbBr₃). By reducing the dimensionality of the perovskite structure, the quasi-2D perovskite (BA)₂(MA)_x−1Pb_xBr_3x+1 presents higher luminescence efficiency and better environmental stability than traditional 3D perovskites, which is mainly because the dimensionality-reduced perovskite has higher exciton binding energy and formation energy. Under an optimal MA : BA ratio of 1 : 1, the quasi-2D perovskite exhibits about four times higher luminescence efficiency (PLQY = 49.44%) than pristine MAPbBr₃; meanwhile it emits stable luminescence in an environment with 80% humidity for 50 days. Most importantly, carbon quantum dot (CQD) doping has also been applied in this work, which effectively passivates the defects of (BA)₂(MA)_x−1Pb_xBr_3x+1via H-bond interaction, further improving the stability of the perovskite in water. Inspired by the superior performances of the proposed quasi-2D nanomaterial, a novel colorimetric method based on halide ion exchange has been developed for H₂O₂ detection, which also demonstrates that PQDs show significant potential in the field of environmental monitoring.