Boosting the Self-Trapped Exciton Emission in Alloyed Cs2(Ag/Na)InCl6 Double Perovskite via Cu+ Doping

Fundamental understanding of the effect of doping on the optical properties of 3D double perovskites (DPs) especially the dynamics of self-trapped excitons (STEs) is of vital importance for their optoelectronic applications. Herein, a unique strategy via Cu+ doping to achieve efficient STE emission in the alloyed lead-free Cs-2(Ag/Na)InCl6 DPs is reported. A small amount (1.0 mol%) of Cu+ doping results in boosted STE emission in the crystals, with photoluminescence (PL) quantum yield increasing from 19.0% to 62.6% and excitation band shifting from 310 to 365 nm. Temperature-dependent PL and femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopies reveal that the remarkable PL enhancement originates from the increased radiative recombination rate and density of STEs, as a result of symmetry breakdown of the STE wavefunction at the octahedral Ag+ site. These findings provide deep insights into the STE dynamics in Cu+-doped Cs-2(Ag/Na)InCl6, thereby laying a foundation for the future design of new lead-free DPs with efficient STE emission.

Automated summary

This study reports a unique strategy to achieve efficient self-trapped exciton (STE) emission in alloyed lead-free Cs-2(Ag/Na)InCl6 double perovskites through Cu+ doping. A small amount of Cu+ doping enhances the STE emission in the crystals, and the underlying mechanism is investigated by temperature-dependent photoluminescence and femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy.