Optically Active Dopants in II–VI and Metal Halide Perovskite Nanocrystals

Abstract

Doping provides an important pathway toward tailoring the optoelectronic properties of nanocrystals. In this Perspective, we critically evaluate optically active dopants that produce Stokes-shifted emission pathways in traditional II–VI and emerging metal halide perovskite colloidal nanocrystals. The structural difference between these materials induces substantive variations in how such dopants, which include Cu¹⁺, Ag¹⁺, Mn²⁺, and Yb³⁺ ions, incorporate into the lattices. When further coupled to the size and shape of the nanocrystals, modified excited state dynamics are exhibited. The modified optoelectronic properties of such doped nanocrystals have found use in nanocrystal-based light-emitting devices, luminescent solar concentrators, and photocatalysis, as examples. Continuing progress in terms of dimensionality and shape control, optimized dopant distributions, and refined energy transfer processes are considered as key future directions to fulfill the promise of doped nanocrystals across such application areas.