Europium Doping Effects on the Properties of CsPbBr3 Nanocrystals: In-situ vs. Ex-situ Synthetic Path Analysis

Metal halide perovskites (MHPs), particularly CsPbBr3 nanocrystals (NCs), attract significant interest due to their remarkable optoelectronic properties. These properties make them ideally suited for applications such as photovoltaics and ionizing radiation detectors. However, CsPbBr3 NCs suffer from poor luminescence efficiency and short service life. Doping with rare earth (RE) elements, especially europium (Eu), has emerged as a viable method for solving these problems because of their unique electronic structure. Doping with RE improves luminescence efficiency and extends the service life of the MHPs, enhancing their optoelectronic properties and catalytic capabilities. This study examines the effects of in-situ and ex-situ europium doping on the structural, optical, and photocatalytic properties of CsPbBr3 NCs. In-situ doping was achieved by introducing the dopant during the NC synthesis, while ex-situ doping involved adding the dopant to pre-prepared NCs via sonochemical synthesis with an ultrasonic bath. The doped NCs exhibit enhanced emission and boosted photocatalytic activity, showcasing the multifaceted benefits of Eu ions doping. The study concludes that in-situ europium doping, particularly at 5 wt%, significantly enhances the structural and functional characteristics of CsPbBr3 NCs, offering a promising approach for improving their performance in optoelectronic and photocatalytic applications.