Overcoming the exciton binding energy in two-dimensional perovskite nanoplatelets by attachment of conjugated organic chromophores

In this work we demonstrate a novel approach to achieve efficient charge separation in dimensionally and dielectrically confined two-dimensional perovskite materials. Two-dimensional perovskites generally exhibit large exciton binding energies that limit their application in optoelectronic devices that require charge separation such as solar cells, photo-detectors and in photo-catalysis. Here, we show that by incorporating a strongly electron accepting moiety, perylene diimide organic chromophores, on the surface of the two-dimensional perovskite nanoplatelets it is possible to achieve efficient formation of mobile free charge carriers. These free charge carriers are generated with ten times higher yield and lifetimes of tens of microseconds, which is two orders of magnitude longer than without the peryline diimide acceptor. This opens a novel synergistic approach, where the inorganic perovskite layers are combined with functional organic chromophores in the same material to tune the properties for specific applications. Functionalizing two-dimensional (2D) hybrid perovskites with organic chromophores is a novel approach to tune their optoelectronic properties. Here, the authors report efficient charge separation and conduction in 2D hybrid perovskite nanoplatelets by incorporating an electron acceptor chromophore.