Arm‐Length‐Controlled CsPbBr <sub>3</sub> Nanocrystals for Tunable Optical and Assembly Behavior

I Irina Skvortsova (Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium) S Sudipta Seth J Juliette Zito R Robin Girod (EMAT University of Antwerp Antwerp Belgium) B Bob Van Hout (Department of Chemistry KU Leuven Leuven Belgium) A Annick De Backer (Electron Microscopy for Materials Science (EMAT) &amp; NANOlight Center of Excellence University of Antwerp Antwerp Belgium) T Tom Stoops (Electron Microscopy for Materials Science (EMAT) &amp; NANOlight Center of Excellence University of Antwerp Antwerp Belgium) S Sergey Abakumov (Department of Chemistry KU Leuven Leuven Belgium) E Evgenii Vlasov (Electron Microscopy for Materials Science (EMAT) &amp; NANOlight Center of Excellence University of Antwerp Antwerp Belgium) T Tejmani Behera (Department of Chemistry KU Leuven Leuven Belgium) S Sandra Van Aert (EMAT and NANOlab Center of Excellence Department of Physics University of Antwerp Antwerp 2020 Belgium) E Elke Debroye (Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium) J Johan Hofkens (Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium) S Sara Bals (Electron Microscopy for Materials Research and NanoLight Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium)

Abstract

ABSTRACT Colloidal cesium lead bromide (CsPbBr 3 ) nanocrystals (NCs) are excellent candidates for various photonic and optoelectronic applications due to their bright and stable green emission. Here, we establish arm length control as a central structural parameter that governs both the optical properties of individual CsPbBr 3 NCs and their self‐assembly behavior. Armed NCs, featuring a cubic core with multiple protruding arms, are synthesized by controlling seed size, concentration, and injection temperature, while arm length is tuned via cesium oleate concentration. Prolonged storage in toluene is shown to lead to a time‐dependent morphological evolution from armed NCs to 26‐faceted rhombicuboctahedra, with short‐armed structures as intermediates. NCs with a longer arm length yield enhanced radiative efficiency, extended photoluminescence (PL) lifetimes, and suppressed blinking, making such NCs suitable for light‐emitting devices and quantum photonic applications. In contrast, short‐armed NCs exhibit faster recombination, stronger PL intermittency, and increased surface accessibility, which are favorable for sensing and high‐speed single‐photon emission. The arm length also governs self‐assembly behavior, hereby opening new possibilities for applications. Armed NCs form densely 3D‐packed assemblies with tunable configurations. This work demonstrates how arm length tuning expands the functional potential of CsPbBr 3 NCs by linking morphological control to both optical response and self‐assembly characteristics.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 38, Issue 23
Published April 01, 2026
ISSN 0935-9648
Publisher Unknown Publisher

Journal Info

Advanced Materials

Unknown Publisher

ISSN: 0935-9648 Physical Sciences

Authors (14)

I

Irina Skvortsova

Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium

S

Sudipta Seth

J

Juliette Zito

R

Robin Girod

EMAT University of Antwerp Antwerp Belgium

B

Bob Van Hout

Department of Chemistry KU Leuven Leuven Belgium

A

Annick De Backer

Electron Microscopy for Materials Science (EMAT) &amp; NANOlight Center of Excellence University of Antwerp Antwerp Belgium

T

Tom Stoops

Electron Microscopy for Materials Science (EMAT) &amp; NANOlight Center of Excellence University of Antwerp Antwerp Belgium

S

Sergey Abakumov

Department of Chemistry KU Leuven Leuven Belgium

E

Evgenii Vlasov

Electron Microscopy for Materials Science (EMAT) &amp; NANOlight Center of Excellence University of Antwerp Antwerp Belgium

T

Tejmani Behera

Department of Chemistry KU Leuven Leuven Belgium

S

Sandra Van Aert

EMAT and NANOlab Center of Excellence Department of Physics University of Antwerp Antwerp 2020 Belgium

E

Elke Debroye

Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium

J

Johan Hofkens

Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium

S

Sara Bals

Electron Microscopy for Materials Research and NanoLight Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium