Recent advancements and perspectives on light management and high performance in perovskite light-emitting diodes

Perovskite semiconductors have experienced meteoric rise in a variety of optoelectronic applications. With a strong foothold on photovoltaics, much focus now lies on their light emission applications. Rapid progress in materials engineering have led to the demonstration of external quantum efficiencies that surpass the previously established theoretical limits. However, there remains much scope to further optimize the light propagation inside the device stack through careful tailoring of the optical processes that take place at the bulk and interface levels. Photon recycling in the emitter material followed by efficient outcoupling can result in boosting external efficiencies up to 100%. In addition, the poor ambient and operational stability of these materials and devices restrict further commercialization efforts. With best operational lifetimes of only a few hours reported, there is a long way to go before perovskite LEDs can be perceived as reliable alternatives to more established technologies like organic or quantum dot-based LED devices. This review article starts with the discussions of the mechanism of luminescence in these perovskite materials and factors impacting it. It then looks at the possible routes to achieve efficient outcoupling through nanostructuring of the emitter and the substrate. Next, we analyse the instability issues of perovskite-based LEDs from a photophysical standpoint, taking into consideration the underlying phenomena pertaining to defects, and summarize recent advances in mitigating the same. Finally, we provide an outlook on the possible routes forward for the field and propose new avenues to maximally exploit the excellent light-emitting capabilities of this family of semiconductors.

Automated summary

Perovskite semiconductors have seen rapid development in the field of optoelectronics in recent years, particularly in light emission applications, with improvements in external quantum efficiency. However, further optimization of light propagation within device stacks and addressing issues of environmental and operational stability are still needed.