Perovskite nanocrystals are a promising class of materials for optoelectronic applications. However, the poor durability of perovskite nanocrystals has limited their applications. A team led by Prof. Hairen Tan from the Soochow University, China has developed a new approach to fabricate perovskite nanocrystals with improved durability. Their work has been reported in the journal Advanced Functional Materials.

The researchers used a ligand-assisted reprecipitation method to synthesize CsPbBr3 perovskite nanocrystals with a controlled size and shape. The nanocrystals were then coated with a thin layer of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and silica. The PMMA coating helped to prevent the nanocrystals from agglomeration and oxidation, while the silica coating provided additional protection against moisture and other environmental factors.

The coated perovskite nanocrystals showed significantly improved durability compared to uncoated nanocrystals. The coated nanocrystals retained their photoluminescence quantum yield of over 90% after being stored in air for 30 days, while the uncoated nanocrystals lost their photoluminescence completely after only 1 day. The coated nanocrystals also showed improved resistance to heat and moisture.

The researchers believe that the new approach could be used to fabricate perovskite nanocrystals with even higher durability. This would open up new possibilities for the use of perovskite nanocrystals in optoelectronic applications, such as light-emitting diodes, solar cells, and photodetectors.