Fundamentals of metal halide perovskite nanomaterials: synthetic protocols, properties and their smart applications

Metal halide perovskite (MHP) materials have experienced intensive attention in the current decade owing to their remarkable properties which includes a tuneable band gap, high photoluminescence quantum yields (PLQY), variable size, morphology, composition and dimensions. The synthesis of MHP nanocrystals (NCs) and quantum dots (QDs) from various methods that have been developed from decades of research. Conventional semiconductors have progressed to achieve controlled morphologies, sizes and compositions. In this context, in the present chapter we review the synthetic methods for MHP NCs highlighting the role of critical factors including the nucleation, growth and ligand passivation to generate defect free and size controlled MHP NCs. Understanding the role of these factors in the mechanism of formation of MHP NCs is crucial to design stable and efficient functional electronic devices. The unique properties of perovskites are related to their distinctive electronic structures which ultimately determine their band gap. These properties make MHP NCs and QDs suitable for use in optoelectronic applications such as light emitting diodes (LEDs), lasers, photodetectors and solar cells. A brief discussion is also given on potential applications of MHPs in some functional devices.