CsCu2I3 Nanocrystals: Growth and Structural Evolution for Tunable Light Emission

Recent Advances and Opportunities of Eco-Friendly Ternary Copper Halides: A New Superstar in Optoelectronic Applications

Recently, the newly-emerging lead-free metal-halide materials with less toxicity and superior optoelectronic properties have received wide attention as the safer and potentially more robust alternatives to lead-based perovskite counterparts. Among them, ternary copper halides (TCHs) have become a vital group due to their unique features, including abundant structural diversity, ease of synthesis, unprecedented optoelectronic properties, high abundance, and low cost. Although the recent efforts in this field have made certain progresses, some scientific and technological issues still remain unresolved. Herein, a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of recent progress on the fundamental characteristics of TCH materials and their versatile applications is presented, which contains topics such as: i) crystal and electronic structure features and synthesis strategies; ii) mechanisms of self-trapped excitons, luminescence regulation, and environmental stability; and iii) their burgeoning optoelectronic devices of phosphor-converted white light-emitting diodes (WLEDs), electroluminescent LEDs, anti-counterfeiting, X-ray scintillators, photodetectors, sensors, and memristors. Finally, the current challenges together with future perspectives on the development of TCH materials and applications are also critically described, which is considered to be critical for accelerating the commercialization of these rapidly evolving technologies.

Mn2+ and Sb3+ Codoped Cs2ZnCl4 Metal Halide with Excitation-Wavelength-Dependent Emission for Fluorescence Anticounterfeiting

In recent years, there has been a growing demand for luminescence anticounterfeiting materials that possess the properties of environmentally friendly, single-component, and multimode fluorescence. Among the materials explored, the low dimensional metal halides have gained wide attention because of unique characteristics including low toxicity, simple synthesis, good stability, and so on. Here, we synthesized Mn2+ and Sb3+ codoped Cs2ZnCl4 single crystals by a facile hydrothermal method. Under 365 nm excitation, the codoped compound exhibits dual-band emissions at 530 and 730 nm. However, under 316 nm excitation, the compound only shows one emission band from 500 to 850 nm peaking at 730 nm, while under 460 nm excitation, the emission from 500 to 650 nm with an emission peak at 530 nm can be observed. Based on the study of the photoluminescence mechanism, the green and red emissions originate from the Mn2+ located in the tetrahedron and self-trapped exciton emission of [SbCl4]- clusters, respectively. Due to the zero-dimensional structure of the Cs2ZnCl4 host, there is minimal energy transfer between these dopants. Consequently, the luminous ratios of the two emissions can be independently regulated. Except by tuning the dopant concentrations, the Cs2ZnCl4:Mn2+, Sb3+ demonstrates excitation-wavelength-dependent properties, which could emit more than two colors with the change of excitation wavelength. As a result, multimode anticounterfeiting based on Cs2ZnCl4:Mn2+, Sb3+ crystals has been designed, which aligns with the requirements of environmentally friendly, single-component, and multimode fluorescence properties.

CsCu2I3 Nanoparticles Incorporated within a Mesoporous Metal-Organic Porphyrin Framework as a Catalyst for One-Pot Click Cycloaddition and Oxidation/Knoevenagel Tandem Reaction

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and metal halide perovskites are currently under much investigation due to their unique properties and applications. Herein, an innovative strategy has been developed combining an iron-porphyrin MOF, PCN-222(Fe), and an in situ-grown CsCu₂I₃ nontoxic lead-free halide perovskite based on an earth-abundant metal that becomes incorporated within the MOF channels [CsCu₂I₃@PCN-222(Fe)]. Encapsulation was designed to decrease and control the particle size and increase the stability of CsCu₂I₃. The hybrid materials were characterized by various techniques including FE-SEM, elemental mapping and line scanning EDX, TEM, PXRD, UV-Vis DRS, BET surface area, XPS, and photoemission measurements. Hybrid CsCu₂I₃@PCN-222(Fe) materials were examined as heterogeneous multifunctional (photo)catalysts for copper(I)-catalyzed alkyne-azide cycloaddition (CuAAC) and one-pot selective photo-oxidation/Knoevenagel condensation cascade reaction. Interestingly, CsCu₂I₃@PCN-222(Fe) outperforms not only its individual components CsCu₂I₃ and PCN-222(Fe) but also other reported (photo)catalysts for these transformations. This is attributed to cooperation and synergistic effects of the PCN-222(Fe) host and CsCu₂I₃ nanocrystals. To understand the catalytic and photocatalytic mechanisms, control and inhibition experiments, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) measurements, and time-resolved phosphorescence were performed, revealing the main role of active species of Cu(I) in the click reaction and the superoxide ion (O₂^•-) and singlet oxygen (¹O₂) in the photocatalytic reaction.

Spontaneous Formation of Lead-Free Cs3 Cu2 I5 Quantum Dots in Metal-Organic-Frameworks with Deep-Blue Emission

All-inorganic lead-free Cs₃ Cu₂ I₅  perovskite-derivant quantum dots (QDs) have attracted tremendous attention due to their nontoxicity and unique optoelectronic properties. However, the traditional hot-injection method requires high temperatures and multiple ligands to confine the growth of QDs. Herein, a strategy is reported to spontaneously synthesize ultrasmall Cs₃ Cu₂ I₅  QDs within metal-organic-frameworks (MOFs) MOF-74 at room temperature (RT) with an average diameter of 4.33 nm. The obtained Cs₃ Cu₂ I₅  QDs exhibit an evident deep-blue emission with Commission Internationale de L'Eclairage coordinates of (0.17, 0.07), owing to the strong quantum confinement effect. Due to the protection of MOF-74, the Cs₃ Cu₂ I₅  QDs demonstrate superior stability, and the photoluminescence quantum yield retains 89% of the initial value after the storage of 1440 h under the environment with relative humidity exceeding 70%. Besides, triplet-triplet annihilation upconversion emission is observed within the composite of Cs₃ Cu₂ I₅ @MOF-74, which brings out apparent temperature-dependent photoluminescence. This study reveals a facile method for fabricating ultrasmall lead-free perovskite-derivant QDs at RT without multiple ligands. Besides, the temperature-dependent photoluminescence of Cs₃ Cu₂ I₅ @MOF-74 may open up a new way to develop the applications of temperature sensors or other related optoelectronic devices.

All-inorganic lead-free metal halide perovskite quantum dots: progress and prospects

Lead halide perovskite quantum dots have drawn worldwide attention due to their quantum confinement effect and excellent optical gain properties. It is worth noting that due to the toxicity of lead ions and the inherent instability of organic groups, research on all-inorganic lead-free metal halide perovskite quantum dots (ILFHPQDs) has become a hot spot in recent years. This paper summarizes the latest research progress of ILFHPQDs, analyzes the sources and limitations affecting the performance of ILFHPQDs, and provides the improvement methods. Firstly, the typical synthesis strategies of ILFHPQDs are discussed, followed by a focus on the structural characteristics, optoelectronic properties and stability of each type of ILFHPQD. Next, the applications of ILFHPQDs in devices are investigated. Finally, the challenges, solutions and future application directions of ILFHPQDs are prospected.