Perovskite quantum dot photovoltaic materials beyond the reach of thin films: Full-range tuning of a-site cation composition

We present a cation-exchange approach for tunable A-site alloys of cesium (Cs+) and formamidinium (FA+) lead triiodide perovskite nanocrystals that enables the formation of compositions spanning the complete range of Cs1–xFAxPbI3, unlike thin-film alloys or the direct synthesis of alloyed perovskite nanocrystals. These materials show bright and finely tunable emission in the red and near-infrared range between 650 and 800 nm. The activation energy for the miscibility between Cs+ and FA+ is measured (∼0.65 eV) and is shown to be higher than reported for X-site exchange in lead halide perovskites. We use these alloyed colloidal perovskite quantum dots to fabricate photovoltaic devices. In addition to the expanded compositional range for Cs1–xFAxPbI3 materials, the quantum dot solar cells exhibit high open-circuit voltage (VOC) with a lower loss than the thin-film perovskite devices of similar compositions

Perovskite quantum dot photovoltaic materials beyond the reach of thin films: Full-range tuning of a-site cation composition

We present a cation-exchange approach for tunable A-site alloys of cesium (Cs+) and formamidinium (FA+) lead triiodide perovskite nanocrystals that enables the formation of compositions spanning the complete range of Cs1–xFAxPbI3, unlike thin-film alloys or the direct synthesis of alloyed perovskite nanocrystals. These materials show bright and finely tunable emission in the red and near-infrared range between 650 and 800 nm. The activation energy for the miscibility between Cs+ and FA+ is measured (∼0.65 eV) and is shown to be higher than reported for X-site exchange in lead halide perovskites. We use these alloyed colloidal perovskite quantum dots to fabricate photovoltaic devices. In addition to the expanded compositional range for Cs1–xFAxPbI3 materials, the quantum dot solar cells exhibit high open-circuit voltage (VOC) with a lower loss than the thin-film perovskite devices of similar compositions

Fabrication and optical characterization of polystyrene opal templates for the synthesis of scalable, nanoporous (photo)electrocatalytic materials by electrodeposition

Finding solutions to improve the performance of semiconductor light absorbers and catalyst materials remains an outstanding issue that prevents the realization of solar fuel generators. Nanostructuring approaches of photoelectrocatalytic materials have the potential to reduce bulk recombination and improve electron-hole pair separation in semiconductor light absorbers, as well as to increase the active surface area and influence the activity in catalytic systems. Herein, we propose a versatile approach for the synthesis of reproducible, highly homogeneous, large scale nanoporous (photo)electrocatalytic materials for artificial photosynthesis. By identifying and carefully analyzing critical parameters for forming opal templates from solutions of colloidal polystyrene beads (PS), we are able to reproducibly fabricate large area (>cm2) PS films with high optical quality over a wide diameter range (170-600 nm). Using these PS bead opal films as templates, we demonstrate that electrodeposition is a suitable bottom-up infilling technique to produce scalable, homogeneous, and highly ordered nanoporous (photo)electrocatalytic materials, namely Cu2O, BiVO4, CuBi2O4, and Cu. We provide morphological, structural, and optical characterization of the resulting opal replicas. Finally, we demonstrate preliminary integration of the Cu2O inverse opal film into a working photocathode under CO2 reduction conditions

Fabrication and optical characterization of polystyrene opal templates for the synthesis of scalable, nanoporous (photo)electrocatalytic materials by electrodeposition

Finding solutions to improve the performance of semiconductor light absorbers and catalyst materials remains an outstanding issue that prevents the realization of solar fuel generators. Nanostructuring approaches of photoelectrocatalytic materials have the potential to reduce bulk recombination and improve electron-hole pair separation in semiconductor light absorbers, as well as to increase the active surface area and influence the activity in catalytic systems. Herein, we propose a versatile approach for the synthesis of reproducible, highly homogeneous, large scale nanoporous (photo)electrocatalytic materials for artificial photosynthesis. By identifying and carefully analyzing critical parameters for forming opal templates from solutions of colloidal polystyrene beads (PS), we are able to reproducibly fabricate large area (>cm2) PS films with high optical quality over a wide diameter range (170-600 nm). Using these PS bead opal films as templates, we demonstrate that electrodeposition is a suitable bottom-up infilling technique to produce scalable, homogeneous, and highly ordered nanoporous (photo)electrocatalytic materials, namely Cu2O, BiVO4, CuBi2O4, and Cu. We provide morphological, structural, and optical characterization of the resulting opal replicas. Finally, we demonstrate preliminary integration of the Cu2O inverse opal film into a working photocathode under CO2 reduction conditions