The impact of antimony on all-inorganic lead-free perovskites: progress in optical advancement and applications

The incorporation of Sb³⁺ ions into all-inorganic halide lead-free perovskites bestows them with remarkable photoluminescence characteristics, including an extensive color tuning range, elevated photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY), and reversible color transitions, which hold significant promise for applications in light-emitting diodes, anti-counterfeiting encryption technologies, and photodetectors. Sb³⁺ ions not only create new optical absorption channels but also can be integrated into these materials as activators or sensitizers to modulate the bandgap and band structure. This review focuses on the optical properties of Sb³⁺ ion-doped lead-free halide perovskites while examining potential energy transfer pathways across various doping systems. It reviews the recent research progress of Sb³⁺ ion-doped lead-free perovskites within different frameworks, addressing influencing factors, strategies for enhancing PL intensity, and prospective applications. Ultimately, it outlines the challenges that lie ahead and proposes viable solutions for further exploration of Sb-doped lead-free perovskites.