Luminescent organic-inorganic perovskites with a divalent rare earth

Abstract

There is disclosed herein novel organic-inorganic layered perovskites of the general formula A.sub.2 MX.sub.4 where A is an organic ammonium cation, M is a divalent rare earth metal and X is a halogen. These compounds can be made by a low temperature (about 100.degree.-160.degree. C.) solid state reaction between the organic ammonium salt with the appropriate hydrogen halide and MX.sub.2 where M is a divalent rare earth metal and X is a halogen). A specific example is (C.sub.4 H.sub.9 NH.sub.3).sub.2 EuI.sub.4 which has been made through a reaction at about 140.degree.-160 C. between C.sub.4 H.sub.9 NH.sub.2. HI and EuI.sub.2. This new compound produces intense blue photoluminescence at room temperature, with a peak wavelength of 460 nm and a fairly narrow peak width (FWHM=24 nm). In addition to the simple aliphatic ammonium cations of the form C.sub.n H.sub.2n+1 NH.sub.3.sup.+, e.g., propylammonium (C.sub.3 H.sub.7 NH.sub.3) and butylammonium (C.sub.4 H.sub.9 NH.sub.3), a wide range of organic cations including those based on aliphatic amines, simple aromatic amines and more complex organic cations will substitute into the 'A' sites of the current family of novel organic-inorganic perovskites. There is also disclosed a novel perovskite of the general formula AMX.sub.3, CH.sub.3 NH.sub.3 EuI.sub.3, having a photoluminescence peak at 448 nm. Both families of compounds are expected to be useful in devices such as organic/inorganic light emitting diodes.