Design, Development, and Processing of Perovskite Nanocrystals for Optical Devices

Abstract

Perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) are an exciting new class of luminescent materials with impressive photoluminescence quantum yields, highly tunable properties, and remarkable defect tolerance. Such properties make them ideal candidates for applications in light emitting diodes, luminescent solar concentrators, and quantum photonic devices. However, more work is needed to understand their fundamental properties and leverage these properties in real-world devices. This thesis presents three use-inspired studies that draw on an understanding of fundamental perovskite NC material properties to develop these materials for working device platforms. Chapter 1 discusses fundamental perovskite NC properties and potential device considerations necessary to explore these materials in various applied research areas. Then, Chapter 2 discusses the potential of quantum-cutting Yb3+-doped perovskite NCs for high-performance luminescent solar concentrators. This study produces design constraints for perovskite NC/polymer composites that inform the development of modular polymers to suspend various perovskite NC compositions in the solid composites described in Chapter 3. Finally, this understanding of NC ligand chemistry and stability was leveraged to develop methods described in Chapter 4 to process perovskite NCs with electrohydrodynamic inkjet printing for photonic device integration. These studies are important steps towards translating perovskite NC research from fundamental innovations towards the numerous potential device applications of these materials.