Studies on the photoelectronic properties of a manganese (Mn)-doped lead-free double perovskite

Taking Cs2NaBiCl6, Cs2AgInCl6 and Cs2AgBiCl6 as examples of lead-free double perovskites (DPs), we study the photoluminescence (PL) properties of Mn-doped DPs. The electron localization function (ELF) reveals the more ionic nature of the Na-Cl bond in Cs2NaBiCl6 than that of the Ag-Cl bond in Cs2AgBiCl6. Bader charge calculations confirm the nominal +2 valence state of Mn ions in both DPs. Mn2+ ions introduce two defect levels in the band gap of the Cs2NaBiCl6 host, accounting for the d-d transition (4T1-6A1 transition) of Mn2+ and thus the subsequent orange PL. The changes of the crystal field and their influences on the emission energy of Mn2+ ions in different DPs are evaluated by calculating the Racah parameters (B and C) and the crystal field strength (Dq) obtained from energies of the terms of d5 in the Cs2NaBiCl6:Mn2+ and Cs2AgInCl6:Mn2+ systems. The results show that Dq in Cs2AgInCl6:Mn2+ is stronger than that in Cs2NaBiCl6:Mn2+. The analyses on bonding interactions of the Mn-Cl bond via ELF and the integrated projected pCOHP also confirm the stronger ionic bonding interactions and thus the boost of the crystal field strength in the Cs2AgInCl6:Mn2+ system, which results in the blue-shift of the Mn2+ introduced PL peak from Cs2AgInCl6 to Cs2NaBiCl6. Our results provide a new strategy to modulate the emission wavelengths, i.e., tuning the crystal field.