Technology for next-generation composite glass
Ljubljana, 10 November 2021 - Researchers from the Department of Inorganic Chemistry and Technology (D09), Prof. Dr. Gregor Mali and Dr. Andraž Krajnc, have been involved in an international research group that has developed a breakthrough technology for the production of the next generation of composite glass used in the manufacture of LEDs, smartphones, television and computer screens.
Lead halide perovskites can exhibit bright, narrow band photoluminescence but have stability issues in polar solvents, that trigger the formation of inactive phases and the loss of lead ions. The authors of the study have shown that the black, photoactive phase of caesium lead iodide can be stabilized by forming a composite with a glassy phase of a metal-organic framework through liquid-phase sintering. The photoluminescence of the obtained composite was at least two orders of magnitude greater than that of the pure perovskite. The glass effectively stabilized the perovskite so that about 80% of the photoluminescence was maintained even after 10,000 hours of water immersion.
Andraž Krajnc and Gregor Mali employed 133Cs magic-angle spinning NMR measurements to confirm the phase purity of perovskites included within the composites, and suggested that there exists a close surface contact between the perovskite nanocrystallites and the surrounding metal-organic glass. The work was described in an article published in Science.
Their contribution is a clear indication that behind the development of new materials there is always thorough research into the structure and mechanisms of action of these materials. Only with this knowledge can we understand why some materials are better than others, and then design even better.
The study is a great example of how research findings can lead to benefits in everyday life. The achievement is the result of cooperation between the Institute of Chemistry and renowned foreign research institutions, such as the Universities of Queensland, Leeds, Paris, Cambridge and others.
Link: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abf4460
Contact for more information: gregor.mali[at]ki.si