Low threshold and efficient multiple exciton generation in halide perovskite nanocrystals

Mingjie Li, Raihana Begum, Jianhui Fu, Qiang Xu, Teck Ming Koh, Sjoerd A. Veldhuis, Michael Grätzel, Nripan Mathews, Subodh Mhaisalkar, Tze Chien Sum

Research output: Journal article publicationJournal articleAcademic researchpeer-review

127 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Multiple exciton generation (MEG) or carrier multiplication, a process that spawns two or more electron–hole pairs from an absorbed high-energy photon (larger than two times bandgap energy Eg), is a promising way to augment the photocurrent and overcome the Shockley–Queisser limit. Conventional semiconductor nanocrystals, the forerunners, face severe challenges from fast hot-carrier cooling. Perovskite nanocrystals possess an intrinsic phonon bottleneck that prolongs slow hot-carrier cooling, transcending these limitations. Herein, we demonstrate enhanced MEG with 2.25Eg threshold and 75% slope efficiency in intermediate-confined colloidal formamidinium lead iodide nanocrystals, surpassing those in strongly confined lead sulfide or lead selenide incumbents. Efficient MEG occurs via inverse Auger process within 90 fs, afforded by the slow cooling of energetic hot carriers. These nanocrystals circumvent the conundrum over enhanced Coulombic coupling and reduced density of states in strongly confined nanocrystals. These insights may lead to the realization of next generation of solar cells and efficient optoelectronic devices.

Original languageEnglish
Article number4197
JournalNature Communications
Volume9
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 10 Oct 2018
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemistry
  • General Biochemistry,Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • General Physics and Astronomy

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