Perovskite Light-Emitting Diode Technologies

Metal halide perovskites have rapidly emerged as a transformative emissive material class for light-emitting diodes, combining solution-processability with tunable bandgaps and high photoluminescence quantum yields. By varying the organic and inorganic constituents, researchers can cover emission from the near-infrared through green to sky-blue and deep-blue spectral regimes. Quasi-two-dimensional Ruddlesden–Popper phases exploit exciton confinement to enhance radiative recombination, while three-dimensional mixed-cation formulations deliver thermal and morphological stability. Critical advances in additive engineering, such as small-molecule passivation and mixed-halide composition, have minimised trap-assisted losses and phase segregation, pushing external quantum efficiencies past 20 % in green and red devices. Interface design using polymers or metal oxides has improved charge balance and lowered operating voltages. Efforts to suppress Auger recombination, refine energy-transfer pathways and stabilise blue emitters are narrowing the performance gap needed for full-colour displays and efficient solid-state lighting.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Spectrally stable blue emission has been realised through mixed-halide perovskites processed by vapour-assisted crystallisation, which mitigates local compositional heterogeneity and ion migration. These devices achieve external quantum efficiencies in excess of 10 % at emission peaks around 470 nm while maintaining colour purity under high driving voltages. Concurrently, the introduction of methanesulfonate additives into quasi-two-dimensional Ruddlesden–Popper films has reconstructed the layer distribution and smoothed energy transfer, suppressing non-radiative losses. Green LEDs fabricated with this approach report current efficiencies above 60 cd A⁻¹ and external quantum efficiencies near 21 %, representing the highest performance for quasi-2D structures to date. Moreover, targeting Auger recombination by selecting polar organic spacers with reduced exciton binding energy has suppressed efficiency roll-off, yielding record luminances over 80,000 cd m⁻² alongside peak external quantum efficiencies exceeding 20 %.

Perovskite Light-Emitting Diode Technologies publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in perovskite light-emitting diode technologies across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Perovskite: A crystalline material with formula ABX₃, where A and B are cations and X is a halide, noted for excellent optoelectronic properties.

External quantum efficiency (EQE): The ratio of emitted photons to injected electrons in an LED, indicating device efficiency.

Quasi-two-dimensional (quasi-2D): Layered perovskite structures with alternating organic and inorganic sheets that confine excitons.

Ruddlesden–Popper phase: A family of layered perovskites denoted by the formula A₂An−1BnX₃n+1, where n defines the inorganic layer thickness.

Non-radiative recombination: Carrier recombination pathways that dissipate energy as heat rather than light, reducing LED efficiency.

Auger recombination: A three-particle process in which recombination energy is transferred to a third carrier, leading to efficiency roll-off at high carrier densities.

References

1. Mixed halide perovskites for spectrally stable and high-efficiency blue light-emitting diodes. Nature Communications (2021).
2. Smoothing the energy transfer pathway in quasi-2D perovskite films using methanesulfonate leads to highly efficient light-emitting devices. Nature Communications (2021).
3. Reducing the impact of Auger recombination in quasi-2D perovskite light-emitting diodes. Nature Communications (2021).
4. Phase Regulation and Defect Passivation Enabled by Phosphoryl Chloride Molecules for Efficient Quasi-2D Perovskite Light-Emitting Diodes. Nano-Micro Letters (2023).
5. Efficient Light-Emitting Diodes Based on Nanocrystalline Perovskite in a Dielectric Polymer Matrix. Nano Letters (2015).
6. Enhanced Performance in Fluorene‐Free Organometal Halide Perovskite Light‐Emitting Diodes using Tunable, Low Electron Affinity Oxide Electron Injectors. Advanced Materials (2015).