A major efficiency limit for solution-processed perovskite optoelectronic devices (e.g. light-emitting diodes, LEDs) is trap-mediated non-radiative losses. Defect passivation using organic molecules has been identified as an attractive approach to tackle this issue. However, implementation of this approach has been hindered by a lack of deep understanding of how the molecular structures affect the passivation effectiveness. We show that the so far largely ignored hydrogen bonds play a critical role. By weakening the hydrogen bonding between the passivating functional moieties and the organic cation featuring the perovskite, we significantly enhance the interaction with defects sites and minimize non-radiative recombination losses. Consequently, we achieve exceptionally high-performance near infrared perovskite LEDs (PeLEDs) with a record external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 21.6%. In addition, our passivated PeLEDs maintain a high EQE of 20.1% and a wall-plug efficiency of 11.0% at a high current density of 200 mA cm-2 , making them more attractive than the most efficient organic and quantum-dot LEDs at high excitations.

The C 60 fullerene has been investigated by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy in a shear diamond anvil cell after applying pressure and shear deformation treatment of fcc phase. Shear transformation-deformation bands are revealed consisting of shear-strain-induced nanocrystals of linearly polymerized fullerene and polytypes, the triclinic, monoclinic, and hcp C 60 , fragments of amorphous structures, and voids. Consequently, after pressure release, the plastic strain retains five high pressure phases, which is potentially important for their engineering applications. Localized shear deformation initially seems contradictory because high pressure phases of C 60 are stronger than the initial low pressure phase. However, this was explained by transformation-induced plasticity during localized phase transformations. It occurs due to a combination of applied stresses and internal stresses from a volume reduction during phase transformations. Localized phase transformations and plastic shear deformation promote each other, which produce positive mechanochemical feedback and cascading transformation-deformation processes. Since the plastic shear in a band is much larger than is expected based on the torsion angle, five phase transformations occur in the same region with no transformation outside the band. The results demonstrate that transformation kinetics cannot be analyzed in terms of prescribed shear, and methods to measure local shear should be developed.

Abstract

The common opinion that diamond is the stiffest material is disproved by a number of experimental studies where the fabrication of carbon materials based on polymerized fullerenes with outstanding mechanical stiffness was reported. Here we investigated the nature of this unusual effect. We present a model constituted of compressed polymerized fullerite clusters implemented in a diamond matrix with bulk modulus B0 much higher than that of diamond. The calculated B0 value depends on the sizes of both fullerite grain and diamond environment and shows close correspondence with measured data. Additionally, we provide results of experimental study of atomic structure and mechanical properties of ultrahard carbon material supported the presented model.