Chemically Spiraling CsPbBr3 Perovskite Nanorods

Light emitting lead halide perovskite nanocrystals are currently emerging as the workhorse in quantum dot research. Most of these reported nanocrystals are isotropic cubes or polyhedral; but anisotropic nanostructures with controlled anisotropic directions still remain a major challenge. For orthorhombic CsPbBr3, the 1D shaped nanostructures reported are linear and along either of the axial directions < 100 >. In contrast, herein, spiral CsPbBr3 perovskite nanorods in the orthorhombic phase are reported with unusual anisotropy having (101) planes remaining perpendicular to the major axis [201]. While these nanorods are synthesized using the prelattice of orthorhombic Cs2CdBr4 with Pb(II) diffusion, the spirality is controlled by manipulation of the compositions of alkylammonium ions in the reaction system which selectively dissolve some spiral facets of the nanorods. Further, as spirality varied with facet creation and elimination, these nanorods were explored as photocatalysts for CO2 reduction, and the evolution of methane was also found to be dependent on the depth of the spiral nanorods. The entire study demonstrates facet manipulation of complex nanorods, and these results suggest that even if perovskites are ionic in nature, their shape could be constructed by design with proper reaction manipulation.

Automated summary

Spiral CsPbBr3 perovskite nanorods with unique anisotropy were synthesized in this study, controlled by manipulation of alkylammonium ions composition. These nanorods were explored as photocatalysts for CO2 reduction, and it was found that the evolution of methane was dependent on the depth of the spiral nanorods. The study demonstrates that facet manipulation of complex nanorods is possible, suggesting that perovskite shapes can be constructed by design with proper reaction manipulation.