Enhancing the Stability of Perovskite Quantum Dots by Encapsulation in Crosslinked Polystyrene Beads via a Swelling–Shrinking Strategy toward Superior Water Resistance

TLDR: In this paper, highly luminescent perovskite-polystyrene composite beads with uniform morphology are prepared via a simple swelling-shrinking strategy, which is carried out only in nonpolar toluene and hexane without the addition of any polar reagents.

Abstract: Organic/inorganic hybrid lead halide perovskites are promising optoelectronic materials due to their unique structure, excellent properties, and fascinating potential applications in lighting, photovoltaic, etc. However, perovskite materials are very sensitive to moisture and polar solvent, which greatly hinders their practical applications. Here, highly luminescent perovskite–polystyrene composite beads with uniform morphology are prepared via a simple swelling–shrinking strategy. This process is carried out only in nonpolar toluene and hexane without the addition of any polar reagents. As a result, the as-prepared composite beads not only retain high luminescence but also exhibit superior water-resistant property. The composites emit strong luminescence after being immersed into water over nine months. Moreover, even in some harsh environments such as acid/alkali aqueous solution, phosphate buffer solution, and Dulbecco's modified eagle medium biological buffers, they still preserve high luminescence. The applications in light-emitting diodes and cellular labeling agents are also carried out to demonstrate their ultrastability.