PolyU researchers create 2D all-organic perovskites and demonstrate potential use in 2D electronics

HONG KONG, May 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Perovskites are among the most researched topics in materials science. Recently, a research team led by Prof. LOH Kian Ping, Chair Professor of Materials Physics and Chemistry and Global STEM Professor of the Department of Applied Physics of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), Dr Kathy LENG, Assistant Professor of the same department, together with Dr Hwa Seob CHOI, Postdoctoral Research Fellow and the first author of the research paper, has solved an age-old challenge to synthesise all-organic two-dimensional perovskites, extending the field into the exciting realm of 2D materials. This breakthrough opens up a new field of 2D all-organic perovskites, which holds promise for both fundamental science and potential applications. This research titled "Molecularly thin, two-dimensional all-organic perovskites" was recently published in the prestigious journal Science.

Perovskites are named after their structural resemblance to the mineral calcium titanate perovskite, and are well known for their fascinating properties that can be applied in wide-ranging fields such as solar cells, lighting and catalysis. With a fundamental chemical formula of ABX3, perovskites possess the ability to be finely tuned by adjusting the A and B cations as well as the X anion, paving the way for the development of high-performance materials.

While perovskite was first discovered as an inorganic compound, Prof. Loh's team has focused their attention on the emerging class of all-organic perovskites. In this new family, A, B, and X constituents are organic molecules rather than individual atoms like metals or oxygen. The design principles for creating three-dimensional (3D) perovskites using organic components have only recently been established. Significantly, all-organic perovskites offer distinct advantages over their all-inorganic counterparts, as they are solution-processible and flexible, enabling cost-effective fabrication. Moreover, by manipulating the chemical composition of the crystal, valuable electromagnetic properties such as dielectric properties, which finds applications in electronics and capacitors, can be precisely engineered.