Enhancing the Stability of CH3NH3PbBr3 Quantum Dots by Embedding in Silica Spheres Derived from Tetramethyl Orthosilicate in “Waterless” Toluene

Abstract

Methylammonium lead halide perovskites suffer from poor stability because of their high sensitivity to moisture. Inorganic material coatings of SiO2 are preferred for coupling with perovskites to improve their stability, whereas the conventional SiO2 formation method is unsuitable because it requires water. Here, a simple SiO2 generation method based on the high hydrolysis rate of tetramethyl orthosilicate in analytical-grade toluene was developed to avoid the addition of water and catalyst. As a result, SiO2-encapsulated CH3NH3PbBr3 quantum dots (MAPB-QDs/SiO2) were fabricated without decreasing the quantum yield. Photostability tests indicated that the MAPB-QDs/SiO2 samples were markedly more stable than the unencapsulated MAPB-QDs. The photoluminescence (PL) of the MAPB-QDs/SiO2 powders was maintained at 94.10% after 470 nm LED illumination for 7 h, which was much higher than the remnant PL (38.36%) of the pure MAPB-QD sample under a relative humidity of 60%. Similar test results were observed when the MAPB-QDs/SiO2 powders were incorporated into the poly(methyl methacrylate) films. The enhanced photostability is ascribed to the SiO2 barriers protecting the MAPB-QDs from degradation.