Synthesis of Highly Monodisperse Cu₂O Nanocrystals and Their Applications as Hole‐Transporting Layers in Solution‐Processed Light‐Emitting Diodes

Abstract

The synthesis of phase‐pure, narrow‐size‐distributed and highly stable Cu2O nanocrystals is reported, which can be processed as hole‐transporting layers (HTLs) in solution‐processed optoelectronic devices. The synthesis is based on a thermal decomposition process with a ligand protection strategy. The reactivity of precursor can be tuned by simply modulating the concentration of oleylamine in non‐coordinated solvent, resulting in effectively controlling the size and size distribution of Cu2O nanocrystals. Combined with ligand protection strategy of using lithium stearate and moderate reaction temperature of 170 °C, in situ aggregation of Cu2O nanocrystals could be inhibited, exhibiting excellent stability in hexane for several months. The resulting phase‐pure colloidal Cu2O particles (after ozone‐treatment) were applied as HTLs in polymer light‐emitting diodes, the performance of which are comparable to that of the poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) based devices.

The Effect of Cu₂O Synthesis Method on its Optical Properties

“…Cu(acac)2 and 1octadecene were used as the precursor and solvent in the hot-soap method, respectively. The ligand oleylamine was used to control the size and size distribution of the as-synthesized Cu2O NPs [14]. Cu2O-HS is the name given to Cu2O prepared by the wet chemical method.…”

Enhanced Performances of Quantum Dot Light-Emitting Diodes with an Organic–Inorganic Hybrid Hole Injection Layer

“…To address the issues with PEDOT:PSS, solution-processed transition metal oxides such as NiO, MoO 3 , WOx, CuO, and V 2 O 5 have been explored as alternative HILs in QLEDs due to their high stability in heat, hydrogen, and oxygen [12][13][14][15][16][17][18]. An example of these advancements can be seen in Yang et al's early studies [12], which investigated the use of WOx nanoparticles (NPs) as a hole injection layer (HIL) instead of PEDOT:PSS in constructing green quantum dot light-emitting diodes (QLEDs).…”

Algae-mediated route to biogenic cuprous oxide nanoparticles and spindle-like CaCO3: a comparative study, facile synthesis, and biological properties

“…13,14 Cu 2 O crystals with different morphologies have been prepared by chemical reduction approaches in which Cu 2+ ions convert to Cu + with a reducing agent and several successful methods have been reported for the production of Cu 2 O. [15][16][17][18] Some papers have reported the green and convenient biosynthesis of different metal oxide nanoparticles such as Fe 3 O 4 , 19 CuO, 20 TiO 2 , 21 ZnO, 22 Cu 2 O/CuO 23 and Ag/Cu 2 O, 24 which were produced using natural products. However, up to now, there are relatively few reports on the bio-preparation and algaemediated selective biosynthesis of nanocrystalline Cu 2 O compared with some other metal-based nanoparticles.…”