Enhanced Electroluminescence Efficiency in Metal Halide Nanocluster Based Light Emitting Diodes through Apical Halide Exchange

Metal halide nanoclusters represent an attractive class of molecular building blocks for the design of functional materials with superior optical properties that can be utilized in a range of applications. Here, we demonstrate red and near-infrared light emitting diodes with a maximum external quantum efficiency >1%, utilizing phosphorescent octahedral molybdenum iodide nanoclusters. Efficiency improvement in these devices is realized by substituting heavier ligands in the apical nanocluster position that lead to the improvement in photoluminescence and exciton formation efficiencies in the nanoclusters. These results highlight how modulation of nanocluster salts with key terminal ligands has a profound effect on photoluminescence as well as electrical injection.