Nanocube Superlattices of Cesium Lead Bromide Perovskites and Pressure-Induced Phase Transformations at Atomic and Mesoscale Levels

Lead halide perovskites are promising materials for a range of applications owing to their unique crystal structure and optoelectronic properties. Understanding the relationship between the atomic/mesostructures and the associated properties of perovskite materials is crucial to their application performances. Herein, the detailed pressure processing of CsPbBr3 perovskite nanocube superlattices (NC-SLs) is reported for the first time. By using in situ synchrotron-based small/wide angle X-ray scattering and photoluminescence (PL) probes, the NC-SL structural transformations are correlated at both atomic and mesoscale levels with the band-gap evolution through a pressure cycle of 0 <-> 17.5 GPa. After the pressurization, the individual CsPbBr3 NCs fuse into 2D nanoplatelets (NPLs) with a uniform thickness. The pressure-synthesized perovskite NPLs exhibit a single cubic crystal structure, a 1.6-fold enhanced photoluminescence quantum yield, and a longer emission lifetime than the starting NCs. This study demonstrates that pressure processing can serve as a novel approach for the rapid conversion of lead halide perovskites into structures with enhanced properties.