Lead-free Cesium Europium Halide Perovskite Nanocrystals

Abstract

Because of the toxicity\nof lead, searching for a lead-free halide perovskite semiconducting\nmaterial with comparable optical and electronic properties is of great\ninterest. Rare-earth-based halide perovskite represents a promising\nclass of materials for this purpose. In this work, we demonstrate\nthe solution-phase synthesis of single-crystalline CsEuCl₃ nanocrystals with a uniform size distribution centered around 15\nnm. The CsEuCl₃ nanocrystals have photoluminescence emission\ncentered at 435 nm, with a full width at half-maximum of 19 nm. Furthermore,\nCsEuCl₃ nanocrystals can be embedded in a polymer matrix\nthat provides enhanced stability under continuous laser irradiation.\nLead-free rare-earth cesium europium halide perovskite nanocrystals\nrepresent a promising candidate to replace lead halide perovskites.