Mixed Ligand Passivation as the Origin of Near-Unity Emission Quantum Yields in CsPbBr<sub>3</sub> Nanocrystals
Yang Ding, Zhuoming Zhang, Stefano Toso, Irina Gushchina, Vadim Trepalin, Kejia Shi, Jeffrey W. Peng, Masaru Kuno
Abstract
Key features of syntheses, involving the quaternary ammonium passivation of CsPbBr 3 nanocrystals (NCs), include stable, reproducible, and large (often near-unity) emission quantum yields (QYs). The archetypical example involves didodecyl dimethyl ammonium (DDDMA + )-passivated CsPbBr 3 NCs where robust QYs stem from interactions between DDDMA + and NC surfaces. Despite widespread adoption of this synthesis, specific ligand–NC surface interactions responsible for large DDDMA + -passivated NC QYs have not been fully established. Multidimensional nuclear magnetic resonance experiments now reveal a new DDDMA + -NC surface interaction, beyond established “tightly bound” DDDMA + interactions, which strongly affects observed emission QYs. Depending upon the existence of this new DDDMA + coordination, NC QYs vary broadly between 60 and 85%. More importantly, these measurements reveal surface passivation through unexpected didodecyl ammonium (DDA + ) that works in concert with DDDMA + to produce near-unity (i.e., >90%) QYs.