Methylammonium Lead Bromide Perovskite Nano-Crystals Grown in a Poly[styrene-co-(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl Methacrylate)] Matrix Immobilized on Exfoliated Graphene Nano-Sheets

Development of graphene/perovskite heterostructures mediated by polymeric materials may constitute a robust strategy to resolve the environmental instability of metal halide perovskites and provide barrierless charge transport. Herein, a straightforward approach for the growth of perovskite nano-crystals and their electronic communication with graphene is presented. Methylammonium lead bromide (CH3NH3PbBr3) nano-crystals were grown in a poly[styrene-co-(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate)], P[St-co-DMAEMA], bi-functional random co-polymer matrix and non-covalently immobilized on graphene. P[St-co-DMAEMA] was selected as a bi-modal polymer capable to stabilize the perovskite nano-crystals via electrostatic interactions between the tri-alkylamine amine sites of the co-polymer and the A-site vacancies of the perovskite and simultaneously enable Van der Waals attractive interactions between the aromatic arene sites of the co-polymer and the surface of graphene. The newly synthesized CH3NH3PbBr3/co-polymer and graphene/CH3NH3PbBr3/co-polymer ensembles were formed by physical mixing of the components in organic media at room temperature. Complementary characterization by dynamic light scattering, microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy revealed the formation of uniform spherical perovskite nano-crystals immobilized on the graphene nano-sheets. Complementary photophysical characterization by UV-Vis absorption, steady-state, and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy unveiled the photophysical properties of the CH3NH3PbBr3/co-polymer colloid perovskite solution and verified the electronic communication within the graphene/CH3NH3PbBr3/co-polymer ensembles at the ground and excited states.

Automated summary

This study presents a straightforward approach for the growth of perovskite nano-crystals and their electronic communication with graphene, mediated by polymeric materials. The perovskite nano-crystals were immobilized on graphene via a bi-modal polymer, allowing for stable bindings and barrierless charge transport. The resulting structures showed uniform spherical perovskite nano-crystals on graphene nano-sheets, and demonstrated efficient electronic communication.