Cesium Lead Halide Perovskite Nanocrystals Assembled in Metal-Organic Frameworks for Stable Blue Light Emitting Diodes

All inorganic cesium lead trihalide nanocrystals are promising light emitters for bright light emitting diodes (LEDs). Here, CsPb(BrCl)_1.5 nanocrystals in metal-organic frameworks (MOF) thin films are demonstrated to achieve bright and stable blue LEDs. The lead metal nodes in the MOF thin film react with Cs-halide salts, resulting in 10–20 nm nanocrystals. This is revealed by X-ray scattering and transmission electron microscopy. Employing the CsPbX₃-MOF thin films as emission layers, bright deep blue and sky-blue LEDs are demonstrated that emit at 452 and 476 nm respectively. The maximum external quantum efficiencies of these devices are 0.72% for deep blue LEDs and 5.6% for sky blue LEDs. More importantly, the device can maintain 50% of its original electroluminescence (T₅₀) for 2.23 h when driving at 4.2 V. Detailed optical spectroscopy and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy suggest that the ion migration can be suppressed that maintains the emission brightness and spectra. The study provides a new route for fabricating stable blue light emitting diodes with all-inorganic perovskite nanocrystals.