A analysis workforce at Pohang College of Science and Know-how has developed a technique for the uniform and environment friendly synthesis of perovskite nanocrystals, a next-generation semiconductor materials. The research was printed in ACS Nano.
Picture Credit score: Pohang College of Science and Know-how
This research represents a step towards addressing the constraints of conventional synthesis strategies and accelerating the commercialization of optoelectronic units resembling photo voltaic cells and light-emitting diodes.
The analysis was carried out by Professors Younger-Ki Kim and Yong-Younger Noh of the Division of Chemical Engineering at Pohang College of Science and Know-how (POSTECH), Ph.D. candidate Jun-Hyung Im, Dr. Myeonggeun Han of Samsung Electronics, and Dr. Jisoo Hong of Princeton College.
The quantum confinement impact permits exact management of particle dimension and form, making perovskite nanocrystals (PNCs) appropriate for functions in next-generation photo voltaic cells and high-efficiency shows.
Nevertheless, typical PNC synthesis methods, resembling hot-injection and ligand-assisted reprecipitation (LARP), require excessive temperatures and complicated experimental setups, limiting their skill to provide uniformly sized and formed particles. Because of this, further processing steps are wanted to attain the specified properties, lowering productiveness and limiting industrial functions.
The POSTECH analysis workforce developed a synthesis methodology that comes with liquid crystal (LC) as an antisolvent within the LARP course of to attain exact management over PNC dimension and form. LC is an intermediate section of matter that displays molecular ordering much like crystals whereas sustaining the fluidity of liquids.
Through the LC section, molecules align in a most well-liked orientation, resulting in elasticity. When an exterior drive is utilized to an LC medium, the molecules endure reorientation, producing important elastic pressure.
By changing the antisolvent within the LARP methodology with LC whereas sustaining different synthesis situations, the researchers may regulate PNC development. When the PNCs reached the extrapolation size (ξ) of LCs, their development was constrained by the elastic strains of the LC molecules. This method allowed for the mass manufacturing of uniformly sized PNCs with out further purification steps.
The research additionally discovered that interactions between surface-binding ligands and LC molecules are vital in lowering floor defects. The rod-like construction of LC molecules facilitates the dense association of ligands between them. Because of this, ligands bind extra tightly to the PNC floor throughout nanocrystal formation, minimizing floor imperfections and enhancing luminescence properties.
The synthesis methodology developed by our analysis workforce is extremely appropriate with present synthesis methods, resembling ligand alternate and microfluidic synthesis, and can improve the efficiency of assorted optoelectronic units, together with LEDs, photo voltaic cells, lasers, and photodetectors. This know-how permits the large-scale manufacturing of uniform, high-performance nanocrystals at room temperature, and we anticipate it should assist speed up the commercialization of nanocrystal-based optoelectronic units.
Younger-Ki Kim, Professor, Pohang College of Science and Know-how
The Primary Analysis Program (Hanwoomul-Phagi Primary Analysis) and the Pioneer Program for Promising Future Convergence Know-how of the Nationwide Analysis Basis of Korea (NRF) funded the research.
Journal Reference:
Im, J.-H., et al. (2025) Managed Synthesis of Perovskite Nanocrystals at Room Temperature by Liquid Crystalline Templates. ACS Nano. doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.4c13217.
