Confining perovskite quantum dots in the pores of a covalent-organic framework: quantum confinement- and passivation-enhanced light-harvesting and photocatalysis

All-inorganic lead halide perovskites have attracted significant attention in artificial light-harvesting systems (ALHSs) due to their superior emission tunability and high light-absorption coefficients. However, their relatively low photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY), surface defects, and poor thermal and air stability severely hinder their actual applications. Here, we demonstrate a simple and versatile method to grow monodisperse CsPbX3 (X = Cl, Br, I) perovskite quantum dots (QDs) into the ordered mesopores of a thiol-functionalized covalent-organic framework (COF-SH) as emission-tunable antennas. Intriguingly, benefiting from the quantum confinement and defect-passivation, the resulting CsPbX3@COF-SH not only presents dramatically improved environmental and thermal stability, but also exhibits enhanced PLQY (30.2%), significantly higher than that of pristine CsPbX3 perovskite bulk crystals (less than 1.0%). Importantly, the emission spectra of antennas could be precisely tuned by tailoring the halogen component to achieve the well-matched intersections between the emission peak of the antennas and the absorption peak of eosin Y (ESY) or rose bengal (RB) acceptor in ALHSs. As a result, the efficiency of energy transfer achieved from CsPbBr3@COF-SH to ESY and from CsPbBr2I@COF-SH to RB reached up to 94.4% and 93.6%, respectively. To better imitate natural photosynthesis, ESY-CsPbBr3@COF-SH and RB-CsPbBr2I@COF-SH systems were employed as photochemical catalysts for C-H selenation and cross-coupling/annulation reactions, respectively, and both systems showed elevated catalytic activity with excellent yields of up to 99.3% and 95.5% and far surpassing that of ESY or RB alone. This work clearly demonstrates the great advantages of COFs in the fabrication of embedded perovskite QDs with enhanced photoluminescence, thereby facilitating light-harvesting and promoting light-converting applications.

Automated summary

This study demonstrates a simple and versatile method to grow CsPbX3 perovskite quantum dots into ordered mesopores, forming emission-tunable antennas with enhanced photoluminescence quantum yield and thermal stability. By tailoring the halogen component, the emission spectra of embedded perovskite quantum dots were precisely tuned, showing excellent catalytic activity in photochemical reactions.