Abstract
Tandem light-emitting diodes (LEDs), achieved by vertically stacking several units in series to combine the luminance of individual light-emitting elements, are effective for improving efficiency and lifespan compared with single-unit devices1,2,3. In particular, tandem perovskite LEDs benefit from the small Stokes shift of perovskites4, which—in principle—can enable substantial photon recycling between individual perovskite layers and enhance light extraction from trapped modes. However, a tandem structure that effectively merges the luminance of each perovskite unit still remains a notable challenge. Here we demonstrate efficient and stable tandem LEDs by combining two solution-processed perovskite light-emitting units. This tandem structure effectively combines the original luminance of each light-emitting unit; we argue that the emissions are also substantially enhanced through photon recycling between the individual light-emitting units. Consequently, we achieve tandem perovskite LEDs with a low turn-on voltage of 3.2 V, a high peak external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 45.5% (even 20% higher than the sum of the peak EQEs of single-unit devices), an average peak EQE of 40.9% and a half-lifetime of 64 h at an initial radiance of 70 W sr−1 m−2. These findings represent a notable advancement in achieving high-performance and multicolour LEDs through the stacking of perovskite LEDs.
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Data availability
The data that support the findings of this study are fully and freely available from the corresponding author. Source data are provided with this paper.
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Acknowledgements
This work is financially supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2022YFA1204800), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (52233011, 62288102, 62375124, 62405133) and the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province, China (BK20240002, BK20240538). The authors are grateful for the technical support for Nano-X from Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (SINANO). We thank N. Greenham, R. Friend and S. Stranks for helpful discussions.
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Jianpu Wang conceived the project. N.W., Jianpu Wang and W.H. supervised the project. N.W. and Jianpu Wang designed the experiments. Y.K. carried out device design, fabrication and characterizations, with the assistance of W.Z., K.X., M.L. and L.Z. Z.K. carried out SEM and optical measurements. D.Q. performed the angular distributions of the emission measurements. J. Wu optimized the single bottom device. W.L. and C.M. conducted the optical simulations. S.W., Q.P. and S.X. assisted in data processing. Y.K. deposited SnO2, with the assistance of Jinpei Wang. X.T. performed the AFM measurements. N.W. wrote the first draft of the manuscript. Jianpu Wang and W.H. provided substantial revisions.
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Extended data figures and tables
Extended Data Fig. 1 Characterization of perovskite films.
a–c, Absorption and PL spectra of FAPbI3-bottom (a), FA1−xCsxPbI3-bottom (b) and FAPbI3-top (c) perovskite films. The films exhibit typical optical properties of 3D perovskite. d–f, SEM images of FAPbI3-bottom (d), FA1−xCsxPbI3-bottom (e) and FAPbI3-top (f) perovskite films. Scale bars, 1 μm. g–i, AFM images of FAPbI3-bottom (g), FA1−xCsxPbI3-bottom (h) and FAPbI3-top (i) perovskite films. Scale bars, 1 μm. The root mean square roughness (Rrms) values of the FAPbI3-bottom, FA1−xCsxPbI3-bottom and FAPbI3-top perovskite films are 7.0 nm, 5.9 nm and 15.4 nm, respectively.
Extended Data Fig. 2 Angular distribution of the radiation intensity of the single and tandem perovskite LEDs.
a, Single (FAPbI3-bottom) device. b, Single (FAPbI3-top) device. c, Tandem (FAPbI3/FAPbI3) device. d, Single (FA1−xCsxPbI3-bottom) device. e, Tandem (FA1−xCsxPbI3/FAPbI3) device.
Extended Data Fig. 3 Characterization of the ICL.
a, Photographs of the (FAPbI3-bottom)/TFB/TCTA/MoOx/HATCN with or without SnO2 before and after spin-coating of dimethylformamide (DMF) solvent. The images show that the perovskite film under the ICL without SnO2 becomes transparent after the coating of DMF, whereas the film under the ICL with SnO2 maintains its original colour. This indicates that the perovskite emission layer under the ICL without SnO2 can be completely dissolved by the DMF solvent. b, PL spectra of the (FAPbI3-bottom)/TFB/TCTA/MoOx/HATCN/SnO2 before and after spin-coating of DMF solvent. The PL spectra of perovskite film under the ICL with SnO2 have no change after the spin-coating of DMF. c, J–V characteristic of the ITO/TFB/TCTA/MoOx/HATCN/SnO2/ZnO/PEIE/Ag device. d, PL spectra of FAPbI3-bottom perovskite films covered by TFB/MoOx and TFB/TCTA/MoOx before (solid lines) and after (dashed lines) thermal annealing at 100 °C for 1 h (simulating the fabrication conditions of the top layers). The heated sample without TCTA exhibits notable PL quenching of approximately 50%, which can be attributed to the thermal diffusion of MoOx into the perovskite layer33. By contrast, the inclusion of the TCTA layer reduces the PL quenching to only about 10% owing to its high glass transition temperature34, which effectively limits the diffusion of MoOx during thermal evaporation. e, Transmittance of the ICL (TCTA/MoOx/HATCN/SnO2).
Extended Data Fig. 4
PL spectra of tandem FAPbI3/FAPbI3 samples with or without top Au electrode.
Extended Data Fig. 5 Analysis of carrier dynamics in perovskite films.
a, Schematic illustration of samples prepared for transient PL measurements. b, Excitation light spectra with centre wavelengths at 660 nm, 750 nm and 780 nm, alongside absorption spectra for single FA1−xCsxPbI3-bottom and single FAPbI3-top films.
Extended Data Fig. 6 Excitation-intensity-dependent PLQEs of FAPbI3-bottom and FAPbI3-top films.
They exhibit peak PLQEs of approximately 70%.
Extended Data Fig. 7 Geometric parameter determination of perovskite layers.
a, Discretized map of the FAPbI3-bottom and FAPbI3-top perovskite layers. The scale bars represent 1 μm. x and y denote the pixel numbers in units of pixel length a. f(x, y) represents the discrete function. b, Module of spatial frequency spectrum. Ux and Uy correspond to the spatial frequencies. c, 1D period distribution intensity for the bottom and top perovskite domains. d, Weighting factors of top perovskite domains.
Extended Data Fig. 9 Power coupling fraction analysis across layers.
a, Normalized cross-sectional |E|2 intensities (X–Z plane) of TE-polarized (X direction) and TM-polarized (Z direction) light at 800 nm from the top unit, with top/bottom perovskite periods of 600/200 nm. b, Normalized cross-sectional absorption distribution of TE-polarized and TM-polarized light at 800 nm from the top unit, with top/bottom perovskite periods of 600/200 nm.
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Ke, Y., Zhu, W., Ma, C. et al. High-performance tandem perovskite LEDs through interlayer photon recycling. Nature 649, 53–58 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-09865-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-09865-4
