Highly Stable Waterborne Luminescent Inks Based on MAPbBr3@PbBr(OH) Nanocrystals for LEDs and Anticounterfeit Applications

Waterborne polymers are advantageous in terms of cost, convenience, sustainability, and environmental friendliness. As lead halide perovskite (LHP) nanocrystals suffer from fast degradation in the presence of water, it is challenging to encapsulate LHP nanocrystals in waterborne polymers. In this work, luminescent MAPbBr(3)@PbBr(OH) nanocrystals were synthesized via the aqueous grinding process in the presence of 2-methyl-imidazole (2-MIM) and oleylamime (OAm). 2-MIM triggers the formation of the PbBr(OH) matrix, and OAm acts as a size-control ligand to control the size of MAPbBr(3)@PbBrOH particles in the nanoscale range. Highly stable waterborne luminescent inks were successfully prepared by blending MAPbBr(3)@PbBr(OH) nanocrystals with waterborne polymers, including poly(vinylpyrrolidone), poly(vinyl acetate), and acrylate resins. Owning to the dual protection of the polymer matrix and PbBr(OH) to LHP quantum dots (QDs), the luminescent films exhibit excellent stability to the environment under thermal and light irradiation. The ink can be used as a phosphor to fabricate down-converting green and white light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Waterborne anticounterfeiting inks suitable for screen printing were prepared via formula tuning for the anticounterfeit purpose. The anticounterfeiting luminescent patterns can be screen printed on paper, cloth, and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), with encryption and decryption of information being accurately and conveniently realized by switching UV irradiation.

Automated summary

Waterborne luminescent inks were successfully prepared by blending luminescent MAPbBr(3)@PbBr(OH) nanocrystals with waterborne polymers, exhibiting excellent stability under thermal and light irradiation. The luminescent films can be used to fabricate green and white light-emitting diodes (LEDs), and waterborne anticounterfeiting inks suitable for screen printing were also prepared successfully.