Lead-free bright blue light-emitting cesium halide nanocrystals by zinc doping

Cesium lead halide perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) have attracted extensive attention for photoelectric device application due to their excellent optoelectronic properties. However, the toxicity of lead has hindered their commercialization. Consequently, lead free cesium metal halide NCs have been developed, but these materials suffer from low photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) and poor stability. Here, a new class of lead-free non-perovskite blue-emitting cesium bromine (CsBr) and cesium iodine (CsI) halide NCs are realized by zinc doping. High PLQYs of 79.05% and 78.95% are achieved by CsBr:Zn and CsI:Zn NCs, respectively, attributed to the improved local structural order and reduced strain between the lattices of the NCs after storing under ambient conditions for 20 to 30 days. Moreover, zinc doped cesium halide NCs show excellent air stability for at least 50 days. Our results for zinc doped cesium halide NCs have shown a new avenue to fabricate lead-free halide NCs for blue lighting and display applications.