Researchers have developed a new technique to create highly uniform perovskite nanocrystals at room temperature, potentially paving the way for more efficient and cost-effective production of materials used in solar cells, LEDs, and other optoelectronic devices.
Perovskite nanocrystals have emerged as promising materials for various electronic and optical applications due to their outstanding properties. However, existing methods for synthesizing these crystals either require high temperatures or produce inconsistent results, limiting their commercial viability.
The research team solved this problem by using liquid crystals as templates during synthesis. Liquid crystals exist in a state between liquid and solid, possessing both fluid properties and long-range molecular ordering. The scientists discovered that this unique state allows precise control over the growth of perovskite nanocrystals.
By leveraging the elasticity and topological defects of liquid crystals, the researchers achieved a precisely defined size and shape of nanocrystals with a high production yield. They demonstrated that their method, called LC-LARP (Liquid Crystal-Ligand Assisted Reprecipitation), can produce uniform nanocrystals with significantly reduced surface defects compared to conventional methods.
The team’s approach resulted in several key advantages including the production of highly uniform nanocrystals at room temperature and 80% yield of desired nanocrystals (compared to less than 1% with conventional methods). The materials exhibited enhanced optical properties due to better surface quality. They are also compatible with existing manufacturing processes and scalable production
The researchers also showed that their technique could be integrated with microfluidic systems for continuous production, suggesting potential for industrial-scale manufacturing. While the current work focused on specific types of perovskite nanocrystals, the method could potentially be extended to other nanomaterials.
Reference
Im, J.-H., Han, M., Hong, J., Kim, H., Oh, K.-S., Choi, T., Yusoff, A. R. bin M., Vasilopoulou, M., Lee, E., Hwang, C.-C., Noh, Y.-Y., & Kim, Y.-K. (2025). Controlled Synthesis of Perovskite Nanocrystals at Room Temperature by Liquid Crystalline Templates. ACS Nano, 19(1), 1177–1189. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.4c13217
