Colloidal synthesis of size-confined CsAgCl2 nanocrystals: implications for electroluminescence applications

Abstract

Because of their non-toxic properties and similar ionic radius to that of Pb²⁺, silver ion (Ag⁺)-containing perovskite derivatives have become an important class of Pb-free alternatives that are competitive for a variety of optoelectronic applications. Although great success has been achieved in producing Ag⁺-containing nanocrystals (NCs), such as Cs₂AgInCl₆ and Cs₂AgBiCl₆, colloidal synthesis of pure Ag-based emitters has remained challenging. Herein, we have devised a facile europium chloride (EuCl₃)-based route to CsAgCl₂ NCs with a tunable particle size and desirable warm white-light emission. To enhance the optical properties of CsAgCl₂, we further demonstrate a trace doping strategy with Sb³⁺, which improves the quantum efficiency of the resulting NCs from 16% to 39%. Moreover, the addition of Sb³⁺ was found to significantly reduce the particle size of the CsAgCl₂ NCs from a few hundred nanometers to several nanometers as a result of the reduced surface energy, paving the way for the formation of emissive layers with a well-controlled thickness and improved uniformity. Prototype electroluminescence devices fabricated using these nano-emitters exhibit favorable warm white-light (or yellow) emission, which opens up new avenues to develop single-component warm white light-emitting diodes.