Project funded by the National Science Centre under the “POLONEZ BIS 2” call
Project number: UMO-2022/45/P/ST3/04170
Total project value: 1,117,080.00 PLN
Total funding: 1,117,080.00 PLN
Project implementation period: 04/01/2022 – 03/31/2025
Project leader: Dr. Somnath Mahato
When small modifications are introduced in a material synthesis process, significant changes may occur in its physical properties, such as structural, optical, or electrical characteristics. Therefore, even minor adjustments in material synthesis can lead to substantial differences in the performance of optoelectronic devices. Recently, halide perovskite nanocrystals (NCs), commercially available and produced via the conventional hot-injection method, have shown promising potential for optoelectronic applications—particularly in light-emitting devices (LEDs)—due to their intrinsically high photoluminescence quantum efficiency (PLQE), excellent color purity, and tunable emission.
Due to intensive research conducted over the past five years, the external quantum efficiency (EQE) of halide-perovskite LEDs has increased rapidly, surpassing 20%, which is comparable to existing lighting technologies. However, synthesizing stable, single-phase, monodisperse halide perovskite nanocrystals using the conventional hot-injection method remains challenging due to fast reaction kinetics and an only partially understood ligand chemistry.
The objective of this project is to synthesize air-stable, single-crystal, monodisperse, single-phase halide perovskite nanocrystals [CsPbX₃ (X = Cl, Br, I)] using a modified hot-injection method. Surface passivation of these nanocrystals with functional ligands (1-dodecanethiol or 1-octadecanethiol) and B-site doping with Cu²⁺ ions will, for the first time, significantly reduce surface trap states, increase vacancy formation energy, improve photoluminescence quantum yield, and substantially enhance stability in air.
Leveraging their exceptional PLQE, high color purity, and tunability, the project aims to develop perovskite electroluminescent electrochemical cells (PeLECs) on flexible substrates for wound-healing applications. The produced PeLECs will emit different colors (red, green, and blue) within the visible spectrum, with intensities comparable to natural sunlight. Light intensity will be enhanced through the application of electron-transport layers (ETL) or hole-transport layers (HTL).
The project also includes research on the effect of red-, green-, and blue-emitting PeLECs on wound-healing processes. Red light (620–750 nm) stimulates the growth of keratinocytes and fibroblasts in deeper skin layers. Green light (500–565 nm) supports healing by inducing migratory and proliferative mediators, offering a potentially effective therapeutic strategy. Blue light (450–495 nm) provides well-documented antibacterial effects, particularly on the skin surface.
To ensure successful implementation, the system will consist of three main components:
• Synthesis of halide perovskite nanocrystals using a modified hot-injection method
• Fabrication and characterization of flexible PeLECs, as well as optimization of PEDOT:PSS as the HTL and zinc oxide as the ETL to improve PLQE and EQE
• Application of light therapy to enhance various stages of wound healing, including identifying barriers to clinical adoption of selected light therapies and demonstrating how the new approach can improve current wound-care standards
Project Information
Events attended by the Project Leader
- Science Picnic – Łukasiewicz – PORT, Wrocław, Poland (10/09/2024)
- Opening weekend of two exhibitions on love – Wrocław, Poland (03/14/2025)
Project Summary
- Electron Devices Technology and Manufacturing – Bengaluru, India (03/01–03/07/2024)
- E-MRS 2024 Spring Meeting – Congress and Exhibition Centre, Strasbourg, France (05/27–05/31/2024)
- 17th International Conference on Scintillating Materials and Their Applications (SCINT2024) – University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy (07/08–07/12/2024)
- 18th International Conference on Biomedical Engineering (ICBME 2024) – Singapore (12/09–12/12/2024)
- International Conference on Metal Halide Perovskites 2024 – NISER, Bhubaneswar, India (12/13–12/17/2024)
- Materials for Sustainable Development Conference (MATSUS25) – Seville, Spain (03/03–03/07/2025)
Workshops attended by the Project Leader
Medical University of Gdańsk, Poland (06/01–06/02/2024)
Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, India (03/24–03/31/2025)
Article
Additional Project Details
In the field of science and technology, the development of perovskite materials is often at the forefront of research due to their properties and significant economic and societal implications. This innovative research project draws on the Principal Investigator’s extensive experience in producing complex, fully inorganic perovskite-based layers and applies this knowledge to create advanced device architectures with strong potential impact on wound-healing processes.
The project addresses key challenges associated with the development of flexible perovskite electroluminescent electrochemical cells (PeLECs) and their integration into wound dressings. To achieve this, the project has been divided into five work packages (WPs):
Synthesis of stable halide perovskite nanocrystals (NCs)
Fabrication of PeLECs using various electron- and hole-transport layers
Development of PeLEC prototypes on flexible PET substrates
Optimization and integration of PeLEC prototypes with wound dressings
Assessment of the effects of mechanical deformation on PeLEC dressings
At the beginning of the project, the PI synthesized perovskite nanocrystals using a modified hot-injection method. In this method, toxic 1-octadecene was eliminated and replaced by commercially available olive-oil-based products, which act both as a solvent and as a solubilizing agent for Cs and Pb. To enhance air stability, the perovskite nanocrystals underwent passivation using functional ligands (1-dodecanethiol or 1-octadecanethiol) and B-site doping (Cu²⁺).
As a result, PeLECs emitting red and green light were successfully developed. Additionally, the PI synthesized highly stable perovskite quantum dots well suited for application in flexible PeLECs.
