Zero-dimensional organic–inorganic hybrid zinc halide with broadband yellow light emission

Abstract

In recent years, low-dimensional organic–inorganic hybrid metal halides have attracted great attention in the field of solid-state optical materials due to their outstanding luminescence properties. Here, one new zero-dimensional (0D) hybrid zinc bromide [N-EPD]₂ZnBr₄ (N-EPD = N-ethylpyridinium) was prepared through a conventional solvothermal reaction method. The crystal structure of [N-EPD]₂ZnBr₄ consists of a discrete [ZnBr₄]²⁻ tetrahedron and organic [N-EPD] cation. It is noteworthy that [N-EPD]₂ZnBr₄ displays strong yellow broadband luminescence with a promising photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of 8.28%. Based on temperature-dependent, time-resolved spectroscopy characterization and theoretical studies, the broadband yellow emission can be attributed to radiative recombination of self-trapping excitons (STEs). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report about yellow light emission in 0D hybrid zinc halides.