High Color‐Rendering Index and Stable White Light‐Emitting Diodes by Assembling Two Broadband Emissive Self‐Trapped Excitons

Abstract White light‐emitting diodes (WLEDs) are promising next‐generation solid‐state light sources. However, the commercialization route for WLED production suffers from challenges in terms of insufficient color‐rendering index (CRI), color instability, and incorporation of rare‐earth elements. Herein, a new two‐component strategy is developed by assembling two broadband emissive materials with self‐trapped excitons (STEs) for high CRI and stable WLEDs. The strategy addresses effectively the challenging issues facing current WLEDs. Based on first‐principles thermodynamic calculations, copper‐based ternary halides composites, CsCu 2 I 3 @Cs 3 Cu 2 I 5 , are synthesized by a facile one‐step solution approach. The composites exhibit an ideal white‐light emission with a cold/warm white‐light tuning and a robust stability against heat, ultraviolet light, and environmental oxygen/moisture. A series of cold/warm tunable WLEDs is demonstrated with a maximum luminance of 145 cd m −2 and an external quantum efficiency of 0.15%, and a record high CRI of 91.6 is achieved, which is the highest value for lead‐free WLEDs. Importantly, the fabricated device demonstrates an excellent operation stability in a continuous current mode, exhibiting a long half‐lifetime of 238.5 min. The results promise the use of the hybrids of STEs‐derived broadband emissive materials for high‐performance WLEDs.