Low-Cost Synthesis of Highly Luminescent Colloidal Lead Halide Perovskite Nanocrystals by Wet Ball Milling

Lead halide perovskites of APbX(3) type [A = Cs, formamidinium (FA), methylammonium; X = Br, I] in the form of ligand-capped colloidal nanocrystals (NCs) are widely studied as versatile photonic sources. FAPbBr(3) and CsPbBr3 NCs have become promising as spectrally narrow green primary emitters in backlighting of liquid-crystal displays (peak at 520-530 nm, full width at half-maximum of 22-30 nm). Herein, we report that wet ball milling of bulk APbBr(3) (A = Cs, FA) mixed with solvents and capping ligands yields green luminescent colloidal NCs with a high overall reaction yield and optoelectronic quality on par with that of NCs of the same composition obtained by hot-injection method. We emphasize the superiority of oleylammonium bromide as a capping ligand used for this procedure over the standard oleic acid and oleylamine. We also show a mechanically induced anion-exchange reaction for the formation of orange-emissive CsPb(Br/I)(3) NCs.