Self-trapped exciton emission in inorganic copper(I) metal halides

Abstract

The broad emission and high photoluminescence quantum yield of self-trapped exciton (STE) radiative recombination emitters make them an ideal solution for single-substrate, white, solid-state lighting sources. Unlike impurities and defects in semiconductors, the formation of STEs requires a lattice distortion, along with strong electron–phonon coupling, in low electron-dimensional materials. The photoluminescence of inorganic copper(I) metal halides with low electron-dimensionality has been found to be the result of STEs. These materials were of significant interest because of their lead-free, all-inorganic structures, and high luminous efficiencies. In this paper, we summarize the luminescence characteristics of zero- and one-dimensional inorganic copper(I) metal halides with STEs to provide an overview of future research opportunities.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

self-trapped exciton (STE) / low electron-dimensional / inorganic copper(I) metal halides

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Acknowledgements

Q. Hu acknowledges the support from the National Key Research and Development Plan of China (No. 2019YFE0107200), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 11705277), the Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province (No. 2020CFB700), the Doctoral Research Foundation Project of Hubei University of Arts and Science (No. kyqdf2020023), and Innovation Research Team Project of Hubei University of Arts and Science (No. 2020kypytd001).

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