Fabrication of excitonic luminescent inorganic–organic hybrid nano- and microcrystals

Inorganic–organic (IO) hybrid nano- and microcrystals are fabricated by a low-cost, environmentally friendly and easily scaled-up route. Lead(II) iodide (PbI2) nano/microcrystals are obtained by solvothermal techniques and subsequent IO hybrid (C12H25NH3)2PbI4 crystals are produced by intercalation of the organic moiety. The hexagonally shaped crystals obtained range in size from 20 nm to ∼7 μm. Sequential stacking of inorganic/organic layers in these IO hybrid crystals results in strong room-temperature exciton photoluminescence, wherein the excitons are confined within the inorganic sheets.