Research Projects

This proposal aims to modify perovskite nanostructures to create and stabilize new facets beyond nanocubes and to form heterostructures with metals and other semiconductors for efficient charge carrier separation. The main question remains why perovskite nanostructures are limited in coupling with other materials leading to hetero-structures. Extensive experiments are planned to stabilize many other facets, allowing anisotropic growth, and forming heterostructures with metals and other semiconductors. Preliminary data on heterostructures formed with different facets of perovskites with epitaxial relations were gathered, aiming to uncover hidden stories on perovskite nanocrystals. Key approaches for creating nanocrystals other than cubes include specific ligands and surface doping, with phosphonic acid and ammonium ligands being used. Halide-rich facets will be explored for doping with other metal ions, while halide deficient facets will be targeted with ligand binding. Slowing down reaction kinetics for anisotropic growth is another goal. Single ion source generating precursors will be explored to obtain a perfect system with 11x of A, B, and X molar concentration, allowing nanocrystals from 1 nm to above 30 nm or above. Heterostructures with epitaxial binding will open new directions of research for perovskite nanostructures.