Origin of the near 400 nm Absorption and Emission Band in the Synthesis of Cesium Lead Bromide Nanostructures: Metal Halide Molecular Clusters Rather Than Perovskite Magic-Sized Clusters

Abstract

In the synthesis of cesium lead bromide (CsPbBr₃) perovskite quantum dots, with an electronic absorption and emission band around 510 nm, and perovskite magic-sized clusters (PMSCs), with an electronic absorption and emission band around 430 nm, another distinct absorption and emission around 400 nm is often observed. While many would attribute this band to small perovskite particles, here we show strong evidence that this band is a result of the formation of lead bromide molecular clusters (PbBr₂ MCs) passivated with ligands, which do not contain the A component of the ABX₃ perovskite structure. This evidence comes from a systematic comparative study of the reaction products <i>with and without</i> the A component under otherwise identical experimental conditions. The results support that the near 400 nm band originates from ligand-passivated PbBr₂ MCs. This observation seems to be quite general and is significant in understanding the nature of the reaction products in the synthesis of metal halide perovskite nanostructures.