Effects of Perfluorodecanoic Acid on the Photostability and Self-Recovery of Cesium Lead Bromide Nanocrystals

Abstract

Photoinduced desorption of surface ligands causes photodegradation of nanophosphors due to enhanced non-radiative relaxation, which is attributed to generated surface defects. We previously reported the self-recovery of photodegraded CsPbBr3 nanocrystals (NCs) and revealed that its mechanism can be attributed to readsorption of the desorbed surface ligands. Thus, using different surface ligands would change the photodegradation and subsequent self-recovery behaviors. Accordingly, in the present work, perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) was added to pre-synthesized CsPbBr3 NCs modified with oleic acid and oleylamine to evaluate its effects on photodegradation and subsequent self-recovery. The as-prepared NCs (OA-NCs) and PFDA-modified NCs (PFDA-NCs) were dispersed in nanocomposite ethylene-vinyl acetate resin films to suppress concentration quenching. OA-NCs showed monotonical photoluminescence (PL) decrease under blue excitation light and self-recovery during subsequent dark storage. In contrast, the PFDA-NCs exhibited temporary PL enhancement under excitation irradiation. The photo-activation is attributed to optimization of the adsorption states of the surface ligands in the early stage, while the influence of photodegradation due to ligand desorption becomes dominant later. However, increased PFDA modification prevented self-recovery, indicating that desorbed PFDA may be resistant to readsorption on the NC surface.