Efficient Deep-Blue Light-Emitting Diodes from Highly Luminescent Eu2+-Doped Alkali Metal Halide Nanocrystals via Lattice Field Modulation

Lead-halide perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) are promising for fabricating deep-blue (<460 nm) light-emitting diodes (LEDs), but their development is plagued by low electroluminescent performance and lead toxicity. Herein, the synthesis of 12 kinds of highly luminescent and eco-friendly deep-blue europium (Eu 2+ )-doped alkali-metal halides (AX:Eu 2+; A = Na +, K +, Rb +, Cs +; X = Cl –, Br –, I – ) NCs is reported. Through adjustment of the coordination environment, efficient deep-blue emission from Eu-5 d → Eu-4 f transitions is realized. The representative CsBr:Eu 2+ NCs exhibit a high photoluminescence quantum yield of 91.1% at 441 nm with a color coordinate at (0.158, 0.023) matching with the Rec. 2020 blue specification. Electrically driven deep-blue LEDs from CsBr:Eu 2+ NCs are demonstrated, achieving a record external quantum efficiency of 3.15% and half-lifetime of ∼1 h, surpassing the reported metal-halide deep-blue NCs-based LEDs. Importantly, large-area LEDs with an emitting area of 12.25 cm 2 are realized with uniform emission, representing a milestone toward commercial display applications.