Colloidal organolead halide perovskite with a high Mn solubility limit: a step toward Pb-free luminescent quantum dots

Abstract

Organolead halide perovskites have emerged as a promising optoelectronic material for lighting due to its high quantum yield, color-tunable, and narrow emission. Despite their unique properties, toxicity has intensified the search for ecofriendly alternatives through partial or complete replacement of lead. Herein, we report a room temperature synthesized Mn2+-substituted 3D-organolead perovskite displacing similar to 90% of lead, simultaneously retaining its unique excitonic emission, with an additional orange emission of Mn2+ via energy transfer. A high Mn solubility limit of 90% was attained for the first time in lead halide perovskites, facilitated by the flexible organic cation (CH3NH3)(+) network, preserving the perovskite structure. The emission intensities of the exciton and Mn were influenced by the halide identity that regulates the energy transfer to Mn. Homogeneous emission and electron spin resonance characteristics of Mn2+ indicate a uniform distribution of Mn. These results suggest that low-toxicity 3D-CH3NH3Pb1-xMnxBr3-(2x+1)Cl2x-1 an nocrystals may be exploited as magnetically doped quantum dots with unique optoelectronic properties.