Directed Electron Delivery from a Pb-Free Halide Perovskite to a Co(II) Molecular Catalyst Boosts CO2 Photoreduction Coupled with Water Oxidation

The development of high-performance photocatalytic systems for CO2 reduction is appealing to address energy and environmental issues, while it is challenging to avoid using toxic metals and organic sacrificial reagents. We here immobilize a family of cobalt phthalocyanine catalysts on Pb-free halide perovskite Cs2AgBiBr6 nanosheets with delicate control on the anchors of the cobalt catalysts. Among them, the molecular hybrid photocatalyst assembled by carboxyl anchors achieves the optimal performance with an electron consumption rate of 300±13 μmol g-1 h-1 for visible-light-driven CO2-to-CO conversion coupled with water oxidation to O2, over 8 times of the unmodified Cs2AgBiBr6 (36±8 μmol g-1 h-1), also far surpassing the documented systems (<150 μmol g-1 h-1). Besides the improved intrinsic activity, electrochemical, computational, ex-/in situ X-ray photoelectron and X-ray absorption spectroscopic results indicate that the electrons photogenerated at the Bi atoms of Cs2AgBiBr6 can be directionally transferred to the cobalt catalyst via the carboxyl anchors which strongly bind to the Bi atoms, substantially facilitating the interfacial electron transfer kinetics and thereby the photocatalysis.

2D Ruddlesden-Popper Sn-Based Perovskite Weak Light Detector for Image Transmission and Reflection Imaging

2D Ruddlesden-Popper Sn-based perovskite has excellent optoelectronic properties and weak halide ion migration characteristics, making it an ideal candidate for weak light detection, which has great potential in light communication, and medical applications. Although Sn-based perovskite photodetectors are developed, weak light detection is not demonstrated yet. Herein, a high-performance self-powered photodetector with the capability to detect ultra-weak light signals is designed based on vertical PEA2 SnI4 /Si nanowires heterojunction. Due to the low dark current and high light absorption efficiency, the devices present a remarkable responsivity of 42.4 mA W-1 , a high detectivity of 8 × 1011 Jones, and an ultralow noise current of 2.47 × 10-13 A Hz-1/2 . Especially, the device exhibits a high on-off current ratio of 18.6 at light signals as low as 4.60 nW cm-2 , revealing the capacity to detect ultra-weak light. The device is applied as a signal receiver and realized image transmission in light communication system. Moreover, high-resolution reflection imaging and multispectral imaging are obtained using the device as the sensor in the imaging system. These results reveal that 2D PEA2 SnI4 -based self-powered photodetectors with low-noise current possess enormous potential in future weak light detection.

Recent Advances and Future Perspectives of Lead-Free Halide Perovskites for Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction

It is still challenging to design and develop the state-of-the-art photocatalysts toward CO2 photoreduction. Enormous researchers have focused on the halide perovskites in the photocatalytic field for CO2 photoreduction, due to their excellent optical and physical properties. The toxicity of lead-based halide perovskites prevents their large-scale applications in photocatalytic fields. In consequence, lead-free halide perovskites (LFHPs) without the toxicity become the promising alternatives in the photocatalytic application for CO2 photoreduction. In recent years, the rapid advances of LFHPs have offer new chances for the photocatalytic CO2 reduction of LFHPs. In this review, we summarize not only the structures and properties of A2 BX6 , A2 B(I)B(III)X6 , and A3 B2 X9 -type LFHPs but also their recent progresses on the photocatalytic CO2 reduction. Furthermore, we also point out the opportunities and perspectives to research LFHPs photocatalysts for CO2 photoreduction in the future.

Flexible Artificial Optoelectronic Synapse based on Lead-Free Metal Halide Nanocrystals for Neuromorphic Computing and Color Recognition

Optoelectronic synapses combining optical-sensing and synaptic functions are playing an increasingly vital role in the neuromorphic computing systems development, which can efficiently process visual information and complex recognition, memory, and learning. Metal halides are considered promising candidates for synaptic devices due to their excellent optoelectronic properties. However, the toxicity of lead and the further development of device functions are the recognized problems at present. Herein, a flexible optoelectronic synapses system based on high-quality lead-free Cs₃ Bi₂ I₉ nanocrystals is demonstrated, in which the carrier confinement caused by the band mismatching between the Cs₃ Bi₂ I₉ and the organic semiconductor layer provides the possibility to simulate synaptic behaviors. The synaptic functions including long/short-term memory and learning-forgetting-relearning are demonstrated in this device and visual perception, visual memory, and color recognition functions are successfully implemented. Additionally, the flexible device exhibits excellent robustness and can realize imaging of light distribution under curved hemispheres similar to the human eye. Finally, through the simulation based on an artificial neural network algorithm, the device successfully realizes the high-precision recognition of handwritten digital images and possesses a strong fault tolerant capability even in bending states. These results are expected to drive the practical progress of metal halide for neuromorphic computing.

Lead-Free All-Inorganic Cesium Tin Iodide Perovskite for Filamentary and Interface-Type Resistive Switching toward Environment-Friendly and Temperature-Tolerant Nonvolatile Memories

Recently, organometallic and all-inorganic halide perovskites (HPs) have become promising materials for resistive switching (RS) nonvolatile memory devices with low power consumption because they show current-voltage hysteresis caused by fast ion migration. However, the toxicity and environmental pollution potential of lead, a common constituent of HPs, has limited the commercial applications of HP-based devices. Here, RS memory devices based on lead-free all-inorganic cesium tin iodide (CsSnI₃) perovskites with temperature tolerance are successfully fabricated. The devices exhibit reproducible and reliable bipolar RS characteristics in both Ag and Au top electrodes (TEs) with different switching mechanisms. The Ag TE devices show filamentary RS behavior with ultralow operating voltages (<0.15 V). In contrast, the Au TE devices have interface-type RS behavior with gradual resistance changes. This suggests that the RS characteristics are attributed to either the formation of metal filaments or the ion migration of defects in HPs under applied electric fields. These distinct mechanisms may permit the opportunity to design devices for specific purposes. This work will pave the way for lead-free all-inorganic HP-based nonvolatile memory for commercial application in HP-based devices.