Spectrally Resolved Ultrafast Exciton Transfer in Mixed Perovskite Quantum Wells

Facile Tailoring of Metal-Organic Frameworks for Förster Resonance Energy Transfer-Driven Enhancement in Perovskite Photovoltaics

Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) has demonstrated its potential to enhance the light energy utilization ratio of perovskite solar cells by interacting with metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and perovskite layers. However, comprehensive investigations into how MOF design and synthesis impact FRET in perovskite systems are scarce. In this work, nanoscale HIAM-type Zr-MOF (HIAM-4023, HIAM-4024, and HIAM-4025) is meticulously tailored to evaluate FRET's existence and its influence on the perovskite photoactive layer. Through precise adjustments of amino groups and acceptor units in the organic linker, HIAM-MOFs are synthesized with the same topology, but distinct photoluminescence (PL) emission properties. Significant FRET is observed between HIAM-4023/HIAM-4024 and the perovskite, confirmed by spectral overlap, fluorescence lifetime decay, and calculated distances between HIAM-4023/HIAM-4024 and the perovskite. Conversely, the spectral overlap between the PL emission of HIAM-4025 and the perovskite's absorption spectrum is relatively minimal, impeding the energy transfer from HIAM-4025 to the perovskite. Therefore, the HIAM-4023/HIAM-4024-assisted perovskite devices exhibit enhanced EQE via FRET processes, whereas the HIAM-4025 demonstrates comparable EQE to the pristine. Ultimately, the HIAM-4023-assisted perovskite device achieves an enhanced power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 24.22% compared with pristine devices (PCE of 22.06%) and remarkable long-term stability under ambient conditions and continuous light illumination.

Energy Funneling in a Noninteger Two-Dimensional Perovskite

Energy funneling is a phenomenon that has been exploited in optoelectronic devices based on low-dimensional materials to improve their performance. Here, we introduce a new class of two-dimensional semiconductor, characterized by multiple regions of varying thickness in a single confined nanostructure with homogeneous composition. This "noninteger 2D semiconductor" was prepared via the structural transformation of two-octahedron-layer-thick (n = 2) 2D cesium lead bromide perovskite nanosheets; it consisted of a central n = 2 region surrounded by edge-lying n = 3 regions, as imaged by electron microscopy. Thicker noninteger 2D CsPbBr3 nanostructures were obtained as well. These noninteger 2D perovskites formed a laterally coupled quantum well band alignment with virtually no strain at the interface and no dielectric barrier, across which unprecedented intramaterial funneling of the photoexcitation energy was observed from the thin to the thick regions using time-resolved absorption and photoluminescence spectroscopy.

Interlayer Charge Transport in 2D Lead Halide Perovskites from First Principles

We report on the implementation of a versatile projection-operator diabatization approach to calculate electronic coupling integrals in layered periodic systems. The approach is applied to model charge transport across the saturated organic spacers in two-dimensional (2D) lead halide perovskites. The calculations yield out-of-plane charge transfer rates that decay exponentially with the increasing length of the alkyl chain, range from a few nanoseconds to milliseconds, and are supportive of a hopping mechanism. Most importantly, we show that the charge carriers strongly couple to distortions of the Pb-I framework and that accounting for the associated nonlocal dynamic disorder increases the thermally averaged interlayer rates by a few orders of magnitude compared to the frozen-ion 0 K-optimized structure. Our formalism provides the first comprehensive insight into the role of the organic spacer cation on vertical transport in 2D lead halide perovskites and can be readily extended to functional π-conjugated spacers, where we expect the improved energy alignment with the inorganic layout to speed up the charge transfer between the semiconducting layers.

Fabrication and Characterization of 2D Layered Perovskites with a Gradient Band Gap

Vertical gradient band-gap heterostructures of two-dimensional (2D) layered perovskites have attracted considerable research interest due to their superior optoelectronic properties and demonstrated potential for use in optical devices. However, its fabrication has been challenging. In this investigation, 2D Ruddlesden-Popper mixed halide perovskite single crystals with a vertical gradient band gap were synthesized by using a solid-state halide diffusion process. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) measurements after diffusion confirm that the crystalline and morphology remain intact. The transmittance and photoluminescence (PL) spectra show the formation of a vertical gradient band gap that is ascribed to gradient halide distribution through halide intermixing. The mixed halide crystal exhibits high stability with completely suppressed phase segregation in the time-dependent PL measurement. The time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) spectra prove that the mixed halide sample has an enhanced carrier transport due to the Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) effect. Besides, the halide diffusion behavior is found to be different from the previously proposed "layer-by-layer" diffusion model in exfoliated crystals. The gradient band-gap structure is critical for various applications in which vertical carrier transport is demanded.

Carriers, Quasi-particles, and Collective Excitations in Halide Perovskites

Halide perovskites (HPs) are potential game-changing materials for a broad spectrum of optoelectronic applications ranging from photovoltaics, light-emitting devices, lasers to radiation detectors, ferroelectrics, thermoelectrics, etc. Underpinning this spectacular expansion is their fascinating photophysics involving a complex interplay of carrier, lattice, and quasi-particle interactions spanning several temporal orders that give rise to their remarkable optical and electronic properties. Herein, we critically examine and distill their dynamical behavior, collective interactions, and underlying mechanisms in conjunction with the experimental approaches. This review aims to provide a unified photophysical picture fundamental to understanding the outstanding light-harvesting and light-emitting properties of HPs. The hotbed of carrier and quasi-particle interactions uncovered in HPs underscores the critical role of ultrafast spectroscopy and fundamental photophysics studies in advancing perovskite optoelectronics.

Toward Nonepitaxial Laser Diodes

Thin-film organic, colloidal quantum dot, and metal halide perovskite semiconductors are all being pursued in the quest for a wavelength-tunable diode laser technology that does not require epitaxial growth on a traditional semiconductor substrate. Despite promising demonstrations of efficient light-emitting diodes and low-threshold optically pumped lasing in each case, there are still fundamental and practical barriers that must be overcome to reliably achieve injection lasing. This review outlines the historical development and recent advances of each material system on the path to a diode laser. Common challenges in resonator design, electrical injection, and heat dissipation are highlighted, as well as the different optical gain physics that make each system unique. The evidence to date suggests that continued progress for organic and colloidal quantum dot laser diodes will likely hinge on the development of new materials or indirect pumping schemes, while improvements in device architecture and film processing are most critical for perovskite lasers. In all cases, systematic progress will require methods that can quantify how close new devices get with respect to their electrical lasing thresholds. We conclude by discussing the current status of nonepitaxial laser diodes in the historical context of their epitaxial counterparts, which suggests that there is reason to be optimistic for the future.

Connecting the dots for fundamental understanding of structure-photophysics-property relationships of COFs, MOFs, and perovskites using a Multiparticle Holstein Formalism

Photoactive organic and hybrid organic-inorganic materials such as conjugated polymers, covalent organic frameworks (COFs), metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), and layered perovskites, display intriguing photophysical signatures upon interaction with light. Elucidating structure-photophysics-property relationships across a broad range of functional materials is nontrivial and requires our fundamental understanding of the intricate interplay among excitons (electron-hole pair), polarons (charges), bipolarons, phonons (vibrations), inter-layer stacking interactions, and different forms of structural and conformational defects. In parallel with electronic structure modeling and data-driven science that are actively pursued to successfully accelerate materials discovery, an accurate, computationally inexpensive, and physically-motivated theoretical model, which consistently makes quantitative connections with conceptually complicated experimental observations, is equally important. Within this context, the first part of this perspective highlights a unified theoretical framework in which the electronic coupling as well as the local coupling between the electronic and nuclear degrees of freedom can be efficiently described for a broad range of quasiparticles with similarly structured Holstein-style vibronic Hamiltonians. The second part of this perspective discusses excitonic and polaronic photophysical signatures in polymers, COFs, MOFs, and perovskites, and attempts to bridge the gap between different research fields using a common theoretical construct - the Multiparticle Holstein Formalism. We envision that the synergistic integration of state-of-the-art computational approaches with the Multiparticle Holstein Formalism will help identify and establish new, transformative design strategies that will guide the synthesis and characterization of next-generation energy materials optimized for a broad range of optoelectronic, spintronic, and photonic applications.

Circularly Polarized Photoluminescence of Chiral 2D Halide Perovskites at Room Temperature

Chiral halide perovskites have attracted considerable attention because of their chiroptical, second-harmonic generation, and ferroelectricity properties and their potential application in chiroptoelectronics and chiral spintronics. However, the fundamental research of these properties is insufficient. In this work, chiral perovskites were synthesized using precursor solutions with various stoichiometric ratios ⟨n⟩. The chiral perovskite film prepared from the solution with ⟨n⟩ = 1 is composed of (R-/S-/rac-MBA)₂PbBr₄, whereas the films prepared from the solutions with ⟨n⟩ larger than 1 are a mixture of (R-/S-/rac-MBA)₂(CsMA)_n-1Pb_nBr_3n+1 with n = 1 and large n values. A photoluminescence quantum yield of approximately 90 was obtained. Symmetric circular dichroism (CD) spectra were observed without an external magnetic field. Under various magnetic fields, magnetic field-induced CD features are superimposed with the intrinsic chirality-induced CD features. For the ⟨n⟩ = 1 chiral perovskite film, the energy level splitting induced by chiral molecules are a few 10 μeV, whereas the energy level splitting induced by magnetic fields are at the range of ∼-250 to ∼250 μeV. Circularly polarized photoluminescence spectra were observed at room temperature and associated with the spin-preserved energy funneling from highly energetic phases to the lower energetic phases.

Ultrafast Excitonic Response in Two-Dimensional Hybrid Perovskites Driven by Intense Midinfrared Pulses

Two-dimensional organic-inorganic hybrid perovskites (2DHPs) are natural quantum-well-like materials, in which strong quantum and dielectric confinement effects due to the organic spacers give rise to tightly bound excitons with large binding energy. To examine the mutual interactions between the organic spacer cations and the inorganic charge-residing octahedral framework in 2DHPs, here we perform femtosecond pump-probe spectroscopy by direct vibrational pumping of the organic spacers, followed by a visible-to-ultraviolet probe covering their excitonic resonances. Measurements on prototypical lead-bromide based 2DHP compounds, (BA)_{2}PbBr_{4} and (BA)_{2}(FA)Pb_{2}Br_{7} (BA^{+}=butylammonium; FA^{+}=formamidinium), reveal two distinct regimes of the temporal response. The first regime is dominated by a pump-induced transient expansion of the organic spacer layers that reduces the exciton oscillator strength, whereas the second regime arises from pump-induced lattice heating effects primarily associated with a spectral shift of the exciton energy. In addition, vibrational excitation enhances the biexciton emission, which we attribute to a stronger intralayer exciton confinement as well as vibrationally induced exciton detrapping from defect states. Our study provides fundamental insights regarding the impact of organic spacers on excitons in 2DHPs, as well as the excited-state dynamics and vibrational energy dissipation in these structurally diverse materials.

Stabilized Low-Dimensional Species for Deep-Blue Perovskite Light-Emitting Diodes with EQE Approaching 3.4

Despite recent encouraging developments, achieving efficient blue perovskite light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs) have been widely considered a critical challenge. The efficiency breakthrough only occurred in the sky-blue region, and the device performance of pure-blue and deep-blue PeLEDs lags far behind those of their sky-blue counterparts. To avoid the negative effects associated with dimensionality reduction and excess chloride typically needed to achieve deep-blue emission, here we demonstrate guanidine (GA⁺)-induced deep-blue (∼457 nm) perovskite emitters enabling spectrally stable PeLEDs with a record external quantum efficiency (EQE) over 3.41% through a combination of quasi-2D perovskites and halide engineering. Owing to the presence of GA⁺, even a small inclusion of chloride ions is sufficient for generating deep-blue electroluminescence (EL), in clear contrast to the previously reported deep-blue PeLEDs with significant chloride inclusion that negatively affects spectral stability. Based on the carrier dynamics analysis and theoretical calculation, GA⁺ is found to stabilize the low-dimensional species during annealing, retarding the cascade energy transfer and facilitating the deep-blue EL. Our findings open a potential third route to achieve deep-blue PeLEDs beyond the conventional methods of dimensionality reduction and excessive chloride incorporation.

Exciton Dynamics in Colloidal CdS Quantum Dots with Intense and Stokes Shifted Photoluminescence in a Single Decay Channel

CdS quantum dots (QDs), synthesized by a sol-gel method, exhibit significantly Stokes shifted bright photoluminescence (PL), predominantly from the trap states. Surprisingly, the PL decay at the emission maximum is single-exponential. This is an unusual observation for as-prepared QDs and indicates a narrow distribution in the nature of trap states. A closer look reveals an additional fast component for the decays at shorter emission wavelengths, presumably due to the band edge emission, which remains elusive in the steady-state spectra. Indeed, a significantly narrower and blue-shifted emission band is observed in the decay-associated spectra. The contribution of this component to the steady-state PL intensity is shown to be overwhelmed by that of the significantly stronger trap emission. Exciton dynamics in the quantum dots is elucidated using transient absorption spectra, in which the stimulated emission is observed even at low pump power.

Coherent Two-Dimensional and Broadband Electronic Spectroscopies

Over the past few decades, coherent broadband spectroscopy has been widely used to improve our understanding of ultrafast processes (e.g., photoinduced electron transfer, proton transfer, and proton-coupled electron transfer reactions) at femtosecond resolution. The advances in femtosecond laser technology along with the development of nonlinear multidimensional spectroscopy enabled further insights into ultrafast energy transfer and carrier relaxation processes in complex biological and material systems. New discoveries and interpretations have led to improved design principles for optimizing the photophysical properties of various artificial systems. In this review, we first provide a detailed theoretical framework of both coherent broadband and two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy (2DES). We then discuss a selection of experimental approaches and considerations of 2DES along with best practices for data processing and analysis. Finally, we review several examples where coherent broadband and 2DES were employed to reveal mechanisms of photoinitiated ultrafast processes in molecular, biological, and material systems. We end the review with a brief perspective on the future of the experimental techniques themselves and their potential to answer an even greater range of scientific questions.

Femtosecond Exciton and Carrier Relaxation Dynamics of Two-Dimensional (2D) and Quasi-2D Tin Perovskites

The dynamics of exciton and free-carrier relaxation of low-dimensional tin iodide perovskites, BA₂FA_n-1Sn_nI_3n+1, where n = 1 (N1), 2 (N2), 5 (N5), and 10 (N10), were investigated with femtosecond transient absorption spectra (TAS). The absorption and photoluminescence spectra of N1 and N2 show exciton characteristics due to quantum confinement, whereas N5 and N10 display a free-carrier nature, the same as for bulk three-dimensional (3D) films. The TAS profiles were fitted according to a global kinetic model with three time coefficients representing the interactions of biexcitons, trions, and excitons for N1 and N2 and hot carriers, cold carriers, and shallow trap carriers for N5 and N10. The carrier relaxation dynamics of N5 and N10 were similar to those of 3D FASnI₃ except for the absence of surface recombination in the deep-trap states due to passivation of the grain surfaces by the long alkyl chain for these quasi-2D samples (N5/N10 vs 3D).

Multidimensional time-of-flight spectroscopy

Experimental methods based on a wide range of physical principles are used to determine carrier mobilities for light-harvesting materials in photovoltaic cells. For example, in a time-of-flight experiment, a single laser pulse photoexcites the active layer of a device, and the transit time is determined by the arrival of carriers at an acceptor electrode. With inspiration from this conventional approach, we present a multidimensional time-of-flight technique in which carrier transport is tracked with a second intervening laser pulse. Transient populations of separate material components of an active layer may then be established by tuning the wavelengths of the laser pulses into their respective electronic resonances. This experimental technique is demonstrated using photovoltaic cells based on mixtures of organohalide perovskite quantum wells. In these "layered perovskite" systems, charge carriers are funneled between quantum wells with different thicknesses because of staggered band alignments. Multidimensional time-of-flight measurements show that these funneling processes do not support long-range transport because of carrier trapping. Rather, our data suggest that the photocurrent is dominated by processes in which the phases of the thickest quantum wells absorb light and transport carriers without transitions into domains occupied by quantum wells with smaller sizes. These same conclusions cannot be drawn using conventional one-dimensional techniques for measuring carrier mobilities. Advantages and disadvantages of multidimensional time-of-flight experiments are discussed in the context of a model for the signal generation mechanism.

A Microstructural Analysis of 2D Halide Perovskites: Stability and Functionality

Recent observations have demonstrated that the photoelectric conversion properties of perovskite materials are intimately related to the presence of superlattice structures and other unusual nanoscale features in them. The low-dimensional or mixed-dimensional halide perovskite families are found to be more efficient materials for device application than three-dimensional halide perovskites. The emergence of perovskite solar cells has revolutionized the solar cell industry because of their flexible architecture and rapidly increased efficiency. Tuning the dielectric constant and charge separation are the main objectives in designing a photovoltaic device that can be explored using the two-dimensional perovskite family. Thus, revisiting the fundamental properties of perovskite crystals could reveal further possibilities for recognizing these improvements toward device functionality. In this context, this review discusses the material properties of two-dimensional halide perovskites and related optoelectronic devices, aiming particularly for solar cell applications.

Materials, photophysics and device engineering of perovskite light-emitting diodes

Here we provide a comprehensive review of a newly developed lighting technology based on metal halide perovskites (i.e. perovskite light-emitting diodes) encompassing the research endeavours into materials, photophysics and device engineering. At the outset we survey the basic perovskite structures and their various dimensions (namely three-, two- and zero-dimensional perovskites), and demonstrate how the compositional engineering of these structures affects the perovskite light-emitting properties. Next, we turn to the physics underpinning photo- and electroluminescence in these materials through their connection to the fundamental excited states, energy/charge transport processes and radiative and non-radiative decay mechanisms. In the remainder of the review, we focus on the engineering of perovskite light-emitting diodes, including the history of their development as well as an extensive analysis of contemporary strategies for boosting device performance. Key concepts include balancing the electron/hole injection, suppression of parasitic carrier losses, improvement of the photoluminescence quantum yield and enhancement of the light extraction. Overall, this review reflects the current paradigm for perovskite lighting, and is intended to serve as a foundation to materials and device scientists newly working in this field.

Elucidation of Quantum-Well-Specific Carrier Mobilities in Layered Perovskites

Layered organohalide perovskite films consist of quantum wells with concentration distributions tailored to enhance long-range charge transport. Whereas cascaded energy and charge funneling behaviors have been detected with conventional optical spectroscopies, it is not clear that such dynamics contribute to the efficiencies of photovoltaic cells. In this Letter, we use nonlinear photocurrent spectroscopy to selectively target charge transport processes within devices based on layered perovskite quantum wells. The photocurrent induced by a pair of laser pulses is directly measured in this "action" spectroscopy to remove ambiguities in signal interpretation. By varying the external bias, we determine carrier mobilities for quantum-well-specific trajectories taken through the active layers of the devices. The results suggest that the largest quantum wells are primarily responsible for photocurrent production, whereas the smallest quantum wells trap charge carriers and are a major source of energy loss in photovoltaic cells.

Efficient interlayer exciton transport in two-dimensional metal-halide perovskites

Two-dimensional (2D) metal-halide perovskites are attractive for use in light harvesting and light emitting devices, presenting improved stability as compared to the more conventional three-dimensional perovskite phases. Significant attention has been paid to influencing the layer orientation of 2D perovskite phases, with the charge-carrier transport through the plane of the material being orders of magnitude more efficient than the interlayer transport. Importantly though, the thinnest members of the 2D perovskite family exhibit strong exciton binding energies, suggesting that interlayer energy transport mediated by dipole-dipole coupling may be relevant. We present transient microscopy measurements of the interlayer energy transport in the (PEA)₂PbI₄ perovskite. We find efficient interlayer exciton transport (0.06 cm² s^-1), which translates into a diffusion length that exceeds 100 nm and a sub-ps timescale for energy transfer. While still slower than the in-plane exciton transport (0.2 cm² s^-1), our results show that excitonic energy transport is considerably less anisotropic than charge-carrier transport for 2D perovskites.

Aging of Self-Assembled Lead Halide Perovskite Nanocrystal Superlattices: Effects on Photoluminescence and Energy Transfer

Excitonic coupling, electronic coupling, and cooperative interactions in self-assembled lead halide perovskite nanocrystals were reported to give rise to a red-shifted collective emission peak with accelerated dynamics. Here we report that similar spectroscopic features could appear as a result of the nanocrystal reactivity within the self-assembled superlattices. This is demonstrated by studying CsPbBr₃ nanocrystal superlattices over time with room-temperature and cryogenic micro-photoluminescence spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and electron microscopy. It is shown that a gradual contraction of the superlattices and subsequent coalescence of the nanocrystals occurs over several days of keeping such structures under vacuum. As a result, a narrow, low-energy emission peak is observed at 4 K with a concomitant shortening of the photoluminescence lifetime due to the energy transfer between nanocrystals. When exposed to air, self-assembled CsPbBr₃ nanocrystals develop bulk-like CsPbBr₃ particles on top of the superlattices. At 4 K, these particles produce a distribution of narrow, low-energy emission peaks with short lifetimes and excitation fluence-dependent, oscillatory decays. Overall, the aging of CsPbBr₃ nanocrystal assemblies dramatically alters their emission properties and that should not be overlooked when studying collective optoelectronic phenomena nor confused with superfluorescence effects.

A Simple Solution to Trivial Crossings: A Stochastic State Tracking Approach

We present a new state tracking algorithm based on a stochastic state reassignment that reflects the quantum mechanical interpretation of the state time-overlaps. We assess the new method with a range of model Hamiltonians and demonstrate that it yields the results generally consistent with the deterministic min-cost algorithm. However, the stochastic state tracking algorithm reduces magnitudes of the state population fluctuations as the quantum system evolves toward its equilibrium. The new algorithm facilitates the thermalization of quantum state populations and suppresses the population revivals and oscillations near the equilibrium in many-state systems. The new stochastic algorithm has a favorable computational scaling, is easy to implement due to its conceptual transparency, and treats various types of state identity changes (trivial or avoided crossings and any intermediate cases) on equal footing.

The Physics of Interlayer Exciton Delocalization in Ruddlesden-Popper Lead Halide Perovskites

Two-dimensional (2D) lead halide Ruddlesden-Popper perovskites (RPP) have recently emerged as a prospective material system for optoelectronic applications. Their self-assembled multi quantum-well structure gives rise to the novel interwell energy funnelling phenomenon, which is of broad interests for photovoltaics, light-emission applications, and emerging technologies (e.g., spintronics). Herein, we develop a realistic finite quantum-well superlattice model that corroborates the hypothesis of exciton delocalization across different quantum-wells in RPP. Such delocalization leads to a sub-50 fs coherent energy transfer between adjacent wells, with the efficiency depending on the RPP phase matching and the organic large cation barrier lengths. Our approach provides a coherent and comprehensive account for both steady-state and transient dynamical experimental results in RPPs. Importantly, these findings pave the way for a deeper understanding of these systems, as a cornerstone crucial for establishing material design rules to realize efficient RPP-based devices.

Dimension control of in situ fabricated CsPbClBr2 nanocrystal films toward efficient blue light-emitting diodes

In the field of perovskite light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs), the performance of blue emissive electroluminescence devices lags behind the other counterparts due to the lack of fabrication methodology. Herein, we demonstrate the in situ fabrication of CsPbClBr2 nanocrystal films by using mixed ligands of 2-phenylethanamine bromide (PEABr) and 3,3-diphenylpropylamine bromide (DPPABr). PEABr dominates the formation of quasi-two-dimensional perovskites with small-n domains, while DPPABr induces the formation of large-n domains. Strong blue emission at 470 nm with a photoluminescence quantum yield up to 60% was obtained by mixing the two ligands due to the formation of a narrower quantum-well width distribution. Based on such films, efficient blue PeLEDs with a maximum external quantum efficiency of 8.8% were achieved at 473 nm. Furthermore, we illustrate that the use of dual-ligand with respective tendency of forming small-n and large-n domains is a versatile strategy to achieve narrow quantum-well width distribution for photoluminescence enhancement.

Observation of Charge Generation via Photoinduced Stark Effect in Mixed-Cation Lead Bromide Perovskite Thin Films

Extensive transient absorption studies on hybrid organic-inorganic lead halide perovskites have elucidated many optical properties important for their device performance. Despite the enormous progress, the derivative shaped photoinduced absorption feature in transient spectra that is above the bandgap has many explanations, including the photoinduced Stark effect, where the bandgap is blue shifted due to a local electric field generated by charges. In this work, we employ broad band transient absorption and two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy (2DES) to examine the early transient events after photoexcitation of [CH(NH₂)₂]_0.83Cs_0.17PbBr₃ (FA_0.83Cs_0.17PbBr₃). 2DES resolves a photomodulation feature at the excitation energy of the exciton, suggesting the presence of a dipole field created by a polaron pair shifting the exciton transition to higher energies. As this polaron pair dissociates over 200 fs, the exciton transition shifts to higher energies over the same time scale, evidenced by the 2DES diagonal energy spectra. Given that the observations are well explained in terms of the Stark effect, our work provides extra grounds to support the Stark effect assignment of the above-gap photoinduced absorption. Furthermore, our study reports on the time scale of charge generation, contributing to the fundamental understanding of mixed-cation lead bromide perovskite photophysics.

Polaritons and excitons: Hamiltonian design for enhanced coherence

The primary questions motivating this report are: Are there ways to increase coherence and delocalization of excitation among many molecules at moderate electronic coupling strength? Coherent delocalization of excitation in disordered molecular systems is studied using numerical calculations. The results are relevant to molecular excitons, polaritons, and make connections to classical phase oscillator synchronization. In particular, it is hypothesized that it is not only the magnitude of electronic coupling relative to the standard deviation of energetic disorder that decides the limits of coherence, but that the structure of the Hamiltonian-connections between sites (or molecules) made by electronic coupling-is a significant design parameter. Inspired by synchronization phenomena in analogous systems of phase oscillators, some properties of graphs that define the structure of different Hamiltonian matrices are explored. The report focuses on eigenvalues and ensemble density matrices of various structured, random matrices. Some reasons for the special delocalization properties and robustness of polaritons in the single-excitation subspace (the star graph) are discussed. The key result of this report is that, for some classes of Hamiltonian matrix structure, coherent delocalization is not easily defeated by energy disorder, even when the electronic coupling is small compared to disorder.

Ultrashort laser pulse doubling by metal-halide perovskite multiple quantum wells

Multiple ultrashort laser pulses are widely used in optical spectroscopy, optoelectronic manipulation, optical imaging and optical signal processing etc. The laser pulse multiplication, so far, is solely realized by using the optical setups or devices to modify the output laser pulse from the optical gain medium. The employment of these external techniques is because the gain medium itself is incapable of modifying or multiplying the generated laser pulse. Herein, with single femtosecond laser pulse excitation, we achieve the double-pulsed stimulated emission with pulse duration of around 40 ps and pulse interval of around 70 ps from metal-halide perovskite multiple quantum wells. These unique stimulated emissions originate from one fast vertical and the other slow lateral high-efficiency carrier funneling from low-dimensional to high-dimensional quantum wells. Furthermore, such gain medium surprisingly possesses nearly Auger-free stimulated emission. These insights enable us a fresh approach to multiple the ultrashort laser pulse by gain medium.

Laser pulse multiplication is desired in many applications but has been challenging to realize by gain medium. Here Guo et al. achieve double-pulsed stimulated emission in quasi-2D metal-halide perovskites due to the two-channel carrier funneling effect in their multiple-quantum-wells structure.

Distinguishing Energy- and Charge-Transfer Processes in Layered Perovskite Quantum Wells with Two-Dimensional Action Spectroscopies

Interest in photovoltaic devices based on layered perovskites is motivated by their tunable optoelectronic properties and stabilities in humid conditions. In these systems, quantum wells with different sizes are organized to direct energy and charge transport between electrodes; however, these relaxation mechanisms are difficult to distinguish based on conventional transient absorption techniques. Here, two-dimensional "action spectroscopies" are employed to separately target processes that lead to the production of photocurrent and energy loss due to fluorescence emission. These measurements show that energy transfer between quantum wells dominates the subnanosecond time scale, whereas electron transfer occurs at later times. Overall, this study suggests that while the intense exciton transitions promote light harvesting, much of the absorbed energy is lost by way of spontaneous emission. This limitation may be overcome with alternate layered perovskite systems that combine smaller exciton binding energies with large absorbance cross sections in the visible spectral range.

A time-domain view of charge carriers in semiconductor nanocrystal solids

The movement of charge carriers within semiconductor nanocrystal solids is fundamental to the operation of nanocrystal devices, including solar cells, LEDs, lasers, photodetectors, and thermoelectric modules. In this perspective, we explain how recent advances in the measurement and simulation of charge carrier dynamics in nanocrystal solids have led to a more complete picture of mesoscale interactions. Specifically, we show how time-resolved optical spectroscopy and transient photocurrent techniques can be used to track both equilibrium and non-equilibrium dynamics in nanocrystal solids. We discuss the central role of energetic disorder, the impact of trap states, and how these critical parameters are influenced by chemical modification of the nanocrystal surface. Finally, we close with a forward-looking assessment of emerging nanocrystal systems, including anisotropic nanocrystals, such as nanoplatelets, and colloidal lead halide perovskites.

Quo vadis, perovskite emitters?

Halide perovskites hold great promise for next generation printable optoelectronic devices. Within a decade of their debut in photovoltaics, these amazing materials proliferate beyond solar cells to applications such as light-emitting devices, lasers, radiation detectors, and memristors. Such versatility stems from perovskites' favorable optoelectronic properties that are highly exceptional for a facile solution-processed system. Halide perovskite emitters have made significant inroads, in particular, perovskite light emitting device (PeLED) efficiencies have risen from <1% to >20% within 5 years, and perovskite continuous wave amplified spontaneous emission has also been demonstrated recently. This perspective distills the photophysical mechanisms underpinning the various approaches in enhancing their radiative efficiencies. Selected works are highlighted to detail the milestones and to chart the direction the field is heading. Challenges and opportunities for solid-state PeLEDs are discussed. A clear understanding of their basic photophysics and structure-function relations holds the key to rationalizing strategies and streamlining efforts to realize high efficiency PeLEDs and perovskite lasers.

Large-area transparent flexible guanidinium incorporated MAPbI3 microstructures for high-performance photodetectors with enhanced stability

Unveiling the transparency and flexibility in perovskite-based photodetectors with superior photoresponse and environmental stability remains an open challenge. Here we report on guanidinium incorporated metal halide perovskite (MA_1-xGua_xPbI₃, x = 0 to 0.65) random percolative microstructure (RPM) fabrication using an ultra-fast spray coating technique. Remarkably, RPMs over a large area of 5 × 5 cm² on flexible substrates with a transparency of ∼50% can be achieved with enriched environmental stability. Transparent photodetectors based on MA_1-xGua_xPbI₃ (x = 0.12) RPMs manifest excellent performance with a responsivity of 187 A W^-1, a detectivity of 2.23 × 10¹² Jones and an external quantum efficiency of 44 115%. Additionally, the photodetectors exhibited superior mechanical flexibility under a wide range of bending angles and large number of binding cycles. Integrating features including transparency, high performance, stability, flexibility and scalability within a photodetector is unmatched and holds potential for novel applications in transparent and wearable optoelectronic devices.

Modeling nonadiabatic dynamics in condensed matter materials: some recent advances and applications

This review focuses on recent developments in the field of nonadiabatic molecular dynamics (NA-MD), with particular attention given to condensed-matter systems. NA-MD simulations for small molecular systems can be performed using high-level electronic structure (ES) calculations, methods accounting for the quantization of nuclear motion, and using fewer approximations in the dynamical methodology itself. Modeling condensed-matter systems imposes many limitations on various aspects of NA-MD computations, requiring approximations at various levels of theory-from the ES, to the ways in which the coupling of electrons and nuclei are accounted for. Nonetheless, the approximate treatment of NA-MD in condensed-phase materials has gained a spin lately in many applied studies. A number of advancements of the methodology and computational tools have been undertaken, including general-purpose methods, as well as those tailored to nanoscale and condensed matter systems. This review summarizes such methodological and software developments, puts them into the broader context of existing approaches, and highlights some of the challenges that remain to be solved.

Transition Dipole Moments of n = 1, 2, and 3 Perovskite Quantum Wells from the Optical Stark Effect and Many-Body Perturbation Theory

Metal halide perovskite quantum wells (PQWs) are quantum and dielectrically confined materials exhibiting strongly bound excitons. The exciton transition dipole moment dictates absorption strength and influences interwell coupling in dipole-mediated energy transfer, a process that influences the performance of PQW optoelectronic devices. Here we use transient reflectance spectroscopy with circularly polarized laser pulses to investigate the optical Stark effect in dimensionally pure single crystals of n = 1, 2, and 3 Ruddlesden-Popper PQWs. From these measurements, we extract in-plane transition dipole moments of 11.1 (±0.4), 9.6 (±0.6) and 13.0 (±0.8) D for n = 1, 2 and 3, respectively. We corroborate our experimental results with density functional and many-body perturbation theory calculations, finding that the nature of band edge orbitals and exciton wave function delocalization depends on the PQW "odd-even" symmetry. This accounts for the nonmonotonic relationship between transition dipole moment and PQW dimensionality in the n = 1-3 range.

Optimization of Low-Dimensional Components of Quasi-2D Perovskite Films for Deep-Blue Light-Emitting Diodes

Compared to efficient green and near-infrared light-emitting diodes (LEDs), less progress has been made on deep-blue perovskite LEDs. They suffer from inefficient domain [various number of PbX₆ ^- layers (n)] control, resulting in a series of unfavorable issues such as unstable color, multipeak profile, and poor fluorescence yield. Here, a strategy involving a delicate spacer modulation for quasi-2D perovskite films via an introduction of aromatic polyamine molecules into the perovskite precursor is reported. With low-dimensional component engineering, the n₁ domain, which shows nonradiative recombination and retarded exciton transfer, is significantly suppressed. Also, the n₃ domain, which represents the population of emission species, is remarkably increased. The optimized quasi-2D perovskite film presents blue emission from the n₃ domain (peak at 465 nm) with a photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) as high as 77%. It enables the corresponding perovskite LEDs to deliver stable deep-blue emission (CIE (0.145, 0.05)) with an external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 2.6%. The findings in this work provide further understanding on the structural and emission properties of quasi-2D perovskites, which pave a new route to design deep-blue-emissive perovskite materials.

Photochemically Cross-Linked Quantum Well Ligands for 2D/3D Perovskite Photovoltaics with Improved Photovoltage and Stability

The deployment of perovskite solar cells will rely on further progress in the operating and ambient stability of active layers and interfaces within these materials. Low-dimensional perovskites, also known as perovskite quantum wells (PQWs), utilize organic ligands to protect the perovskite lattice from degradation and offer to improve device stability; combining 2D and 3D perovskites in heterostructures has been shown to take advantage of the high efficiency of the majority 3D active layers and combine it with the improved stability of a thin 2D top layer. Prior PQWs have relied on relatively weak interwell van der Waals bonding between hydrophobic organic moieties of the ligands. Here we instead use the ligand 4-vinylbenzylammonium to form well-ordered PQWs atop a 3D perovskite layer. The ligand's vinyl group is activated using UV light which photochemically forms new covalent bonds among PQWs. UV-cross-linked 2D/3D devices show improved operational stability as well as improved long-term dark stability in air: they retain 90% of their initial efficiency after 2300 h of dark aging compared to a retention of 20% of performance in the case of 3D films. The UV-cross-linked PQWs and 2D/3D interfaces reduce device hysteresis and improve the open-circuit voltages to values up to 1.20 V, resulting in more efficient devices (PCE of up to 20.4%). This work highlights the exploitation of the chemical reactivity of PQW ligands to tailor the molecular properties of PQW interfaces for improved stability and performance in 2D/3D perovskite photovoltaics.

Heterogeneous Photon Recycling and Charge Diffusion Enhance Charge Transport in Quasi-2D Lead-Halide Perovskite Films

The addition of large hydrophobic cations to lead halide perovskites has significantly enhanced the environmental stability of photovoltaic cells based on these materials. However, the associated formation of two-dimensional structures inside the material can lead to dielectric confinement, higher exciton binding energies, wider bandgaps and limited charge-carrier mobilities. Here we show that such effects are not detrimental to the charge transport for carefully processed films comprising a self-assembled thin layer of quasi-two-dimensional (2D) perovskite interfaced with a 3D MAPbI₃ perovskite layer. We apply a combination of time-resolved photoluminescence and photoconductivity spectroscopy to reveal the charge-carrier recombination and transport through the film profile, when either the quasi-2D or the 3D layers are selectively excited. Through modeling of the recorded dynamics, we demonstrate that while the charge-carrier mobility is lower within the quasi-2D region, charge-carrier diffusion to the 3D phase leads to a rapid recovery in photoconductivity even when the quasi-2D region is initially photoexcited. In addition, the blue-shifted emission originating from quasi-2D regions overlaps significantly with the absorption spectrum of the 3D perovskite, allowing for highly effective "heterogeneous photon recycling". We show that this combination fully compensates for the adverse effects of electronic confinement, yielding quasi-2D perovskites with highly efficient charge transporting properties.