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Many best-performing perovskite photovoltaics use 2D/3D interfaces to improve efficiency and stability, yet the mechanism of interface assembly is unclear. Here, Proppe et al. use in-situ GIWAXS to resolve this transformation, observing progressive dimensional reduction from 3D to 2D perovskites.

Colloidal quantum dots are a potential source of scalable single-photon emitters, but they typically exhibit broad emission linewidths. Proppe et al. show narrow-linewidth emission from heavy-metal-free InP/ZnSe/ZnS dots with coherence times of up to 250 ps.

The production of higher alcohols is very valuable because of their high volumetric energy density. Now, Sargent, Sinton and co-workers report the design of copper nanoparticles with tailored nanocavities that promote n-propanol formation by the coupling of C2 and C1 intermediates inside the cavity.

Large perovskite nanocrystals are synthesized to increase the cryogenic exciton radiative rate. At liquid helium temperatures, single photons from perovskite nanocrystals coalesce at a beam splitter, signalling the existence of indistinguishable photon emission.

Colloidal quantum dots and organics have complementary properties apt for photovoltaics, yet their combination has led to poor charge collection. Here, Baek et al. introduce small molecules that act as a bridge between quantum dots and polymers, thus improving device efficiency and stability.

A scheme to control the confinement within 2D/3D perovskite heterostructures results in stable, efficient inverted perovskite solar cells.

Solution processed colloidal quantum dots are emerging photovoltaic materials with tuneable infrared bandgaps. Here, Yang et al. create a class of quantum dot bulk heterojunction solar cell via ligand design, enabling longer photocarrier diffusion lengths for greater photocurrent and performance.

The efficiency and operating lifetimes of perovskite light-emitting diodes is improved by using a fluorinated triphenylphosphine oxide additive to control the cation diffusion during film deposition and passivate the surface.

Methylammonium is shown to influence the crystallization process in hybrid lead halide perovskites, leading to a more homogeneous chemical distribution of caesium and formamidinium and improved charge transport between grains in multi-cation systems.

Electrocatalytic reduction of CO₂ to multicarbon products is useful for producing high-value chemicals and fuels. Here the authors present a strategy that is based on the in situ electrodeposition of copper under CO₂ reduction conditions that preferentially expose and maintain Cu(100) facets, which favour the formation of C₂₊ products.

Remnant tensile strain in the perovskite films induced in the thermal annealing step is a known source of material and device instabilities. Here Xue et al. use a thermal expandable hole transporting layer to compensate the strain and result in most stable wide-bandgap perovskite solar cells so far.

Perovskite-like antibonding VBM electronic structure is predicted to result in defect-tolerant materials. Here, the authors investigate GeSe with antibonding VBM from Ge 4s-Se 4p coupling, and a certified 5.2% PCE is obtained with high stability due to its strong covalent bonding.

Metal-halide perovskite based tandem solar cells are appealing but making a high efficiency device is not trivial. Here Chen et al. increase the carrier collection in the perovskite layer and largely enhance the efficiency in tandem cells when combined with colloidal quantum dot or silicon layers.

It is challenging to realize doping and surface passivation simultaneously in colloidal quantum dot inks. Here Choi et al. employ a cascade surface modification approach to solve the problem and obtain record high efficiency of 13.3% for bulk homojunction solar cells based on these inks.

Exciton-polaritons present opportunities for quantum photonics, next generation qubits, and tuning material photophysics. Here Laitz et al. study the temperature dependence of 2D perovskite microcavity polaritons, revealing material-specific relaxation mechanisms towards the control of polariton momentum.

Catalysts for CO electroreduction have focused on Cu, and their main products have been C₂ chemicals. Here authors use the concept of asymmetric active sites to develop a class of doped Cu catalysts for C-C coupling, delivering record selectivity to n-propanol.

Reliable and consistent measurement of the carrier diffusion length in metal halide perovskite single crystals has proven difficult. Here Gong, Huang et al. systematically included very dilute quantum dot quenchers into perovskite crystals and develop a contactless and self-consistent method for the task.

Efficient harvest of solar energy beyond the silicon absorption edge of 1100 nm by semiconductor solar cells remains a challenge. Here Sun et al. mix high multi-bandgap lead sulfide colloidal quantum dot ensembles to further increase both short circuit current and open circuit voltage.

The electroreduction of CO₂ to ethanol could enable the clean production of fuels using renewable power. This study shows how confinement effects from nitrogen-doped carbon layers on copper catalysts enable selective ethanol production from CO₂ with a Faradaic efficiency of up to 52%.

A systematic analysis is performed to reveal how deposition conditions and the use of cations and solvents affect the composition and orientation of 2D and quasi-2D metal halide perovskites in thin films.

Natural photosynthetic systems harvest light to perform selective chemistry on atmospheric molecules such as CO₂. This Review discusses the implementation of bioinspired concepts in engineered light harvesting and catalysis.

The stability of both colloidal quantum dots and perovskites can be improved by combining them into a hybrid material in which matched lattice parameters suppress the formation of undesired phases.

A new matrix engineering strategy enables improvements of CQD solar cell efficiency via considerable enhancement of the photocarrier diffusion length.

Embedding perovskite quantum dots in perovskite leads to bright, efficient 980 nm LEDs with applications in imaging and sensing.