Synthesis of Cesium Lead Halide Perovskite Quantum Dots

Synthesis of quantum dots is a valuable experiment for demonstration and discussion of quantum phenomena in undergraduate chemistry curricula. Recently, a new class of all-inorganic perovskite quantum dots (QDs) with a formula of CsPbX3 (X = Cl, Br, I) was presented and attracted tremendous attention. Here we adapt the synthesis of CsPbX3 QDs for implementation in inorganic chemistry laboratory class. Perovskite QDs have a number of advantages: they exhibit bright photoluminescence in the visible range of spectrum with a narrow bandwidth, and their emission wavelength can be changed by tuning both size and composition of nanoparticles. The described experiment provides a discussion point on many important concepts of inorganic chemistry, materials science, and nanotechnology, such as colloidal synthesis of nanoparticles, perovskite crystal structure, quantum size effect, as well as photovoltaics and renewable energy.