Ligand engineering for improving the stability and optical properties of CsPbI3 perovskite nanocrystals

Abstract

Inorganic lead halide perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) have recently become one of the research topics for optoelectronic applications due to their excellent photophysical properties. Despite their notable thermal stability over organic-inorganic halide perovskites, CsPbI3 NCs suffer from the phase instability of α-CsPbI3 phase at room temperature and under ambient conditions. Here, the effects of 4-Hydroxybenzoic acid (4-HBA) as an additive to standard oleic acid – oleylamine pair on the stability and optical properties of CsPbI3 perovskite NCs are discussed. 4-HBA addition into perovskite NC systems causes a compressive strain on perovskite lattice, which leads to the formation of a mixed phase α- and γ-CsPbI3 phases while pristine perovskite has α-CsPbI3 phase. Time-dependent stability of the perovskite NCs was tested under an ethanol (EtOH) medium. After EtOH exposure of the perovskite NCs, CsPbI3 NCs transformed to non-perovskite phase in 1 h while 4-HBA added CsPbI3 NCs still have perovskite phase after 48 h. In addition to the improved optical properties of the perovskite NCs, 4-HBA addition remarkably improves CsPbI3 perovskite stability.