Unveiling the additive-assisted oriented growth of perovskite crystallite for high performance light-emitting diodes.

Solution-processed metal halide perovskites have been recognized as one of the most promising semiconductors, with applications in light-emitting diodes (LEDs), solar cells and lasers. Various additives have been widely used in perovskite precursor solutions, aiming to improve the formed perovskite film quality through passivating defects and controlling the crystallinity. The additive's role of defect passivation has been intensively investigated, while a deep understanding of how additives influence the crystallization process of perovskites is lacking. Here, we reveal a general additive-assisted crystal formation pathway for FAPbI3 perovskite with vertical orientation, by tracking the chemical interaction in the precursor solution and crystallographic evolution during the film formation process. The resulting understanding motivates us to use a new additive with multi-functional groups, 2-(2-(2-Aminoethoxy)ethoxy)acetic acid, which can facilitate the orientated growth of perovskite and passivate defects, leading to perovskite layer with high crystallinity and low defect density and thereby record-high performance NIR perovskite LEDs (~800 nm emission peak, a peak external quantum efficiency of 22.2% with enhanced stability)

Ru-Doped Ultrasmall Cu Nanoparticles Decorated with Carbon for Electroreduction of Nitrate to Ammonia

Electrocatalytic nitrate reduction reaction offers a sustainable approach to treating wastewater and synthesizing high-value ammonia under ambient conditions. However, electrocatalysts with low faradaic efficiency and selectivity severely hinder the development of nitrate-to-ammonia conversion. Herein, Ru-doped ultrasmall copper nanoparticles loaded on a carbon substrate (Cu–Ru@C) were fabricated by the pyrolysis of Cu-BTC metal–organic frameworks (MOFs). The Cu–[email protected] catalyst exhibits a high faradaic efficiency (FE) of 90.4% at −0.6 V (vs RHE) and an ammonia yield rate of 1700.36 μg h–1mgcat.–1 at −0.9 V (vs RHE). Moreover, the nitrate conversion rate is almost 100% over varied pHs (including acid, neutral, and alkaline electrolytes) and different nitrate concentrations. The remarkable performance is attributed to the synergistic effect between Cu and Ru and the excellent conductivity of the carbon substrate. This work will open an exciting avenue to exploring MOF derivatives for ambient ammonia synthesis via selective electrocatalytic nitrate reduction

Intermediate-phase-assisted low-temperature formation of gamma-CsPbI3 films for high-efficiency deep-red light-emitting devices

Black phase CsPbI3 is attractive for optoelectronic devices, while usually it has a high formation energy and requires an annealing temperature of above 300 degrees C. The formation energy can be significantly reduced by adding HI in the precursor. However, the resulting films are not suitable for light-emitting applications due to the high trap densities and low photoluminescence quantum efficiencies, and the low temperature formation mechanism is not well understood yet. Here, we demonstrate a general approach for deposition of gamma -CsPbI3 films at 100 degrees C with high photoluminescence quantum efficiencies by adding organic ammonium cations, and the resulting light-emitting diode exhibits an external quantum efficiency of 10.4% with suppressed efficiency roll-off. We reveal that the low-temperature crystallization process is due to the formation of low-dimensional intermediate states, and followed by interionic exchange. This work provides perspectives to tune phase transition pathway at low temperature for CsPbI3 device applications. Exploiting low-temperature formed black phase CsPbI3 for light-emitting applications remains a challenge. Here, the authors propose a method to enable the deposition of gamma -CsPbI3 films at 100C and demonstrate a light-emitting diode with an external quantum efficiency of 10.4% with suppressed efficiency roll-off.Funding Agencies|Major Research Plan of the National Natural Science Foundation of ChinaNational Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) [91733302]; National Natural Science Foundation of ChinaNational Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) [51703094, 61935017, 61974066]; Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province, ChinaNatural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province [BK20170991]; National Science Fund for Distinguished Young ScholarsNational Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars [61725502]; Major Program of Natural Science Research of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions of China [18KJA510002]; National Key Research and Development Program of China [2018YFB0406704]; Natural Science Fund for Colleges and Universities in Jiangsu Province of China [17KJB150023]; ERC Starting GrantEuropean Research Council (ERC) [717026]; Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Functional Materials at Linkoping University [2009-00971]; Marie Skodowska-Curie [798861]; Linkoping University</p