Stable lead-halide perovskite quantum dots as efficient visible light photocatalysts for organic transformations

• Published in: Nanoscale advances 2021-03, Vol.3 (5), p.1464-1472
• Main Authors: Pradhan, Sajan, Bhujel, Deshaj, Gurung, Bikram, Sharma, Debesh, Basel, Siddhant, Rasaily, Sagarmani, Thapa, Surakcha, Borthakur, Sukanya, Ling, Wai Li, Saikia, Lakshi, Reiss, Peter, Pariyar, Anand, Tamang, Sudarsan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biochemistry, Molecular Biology; Chemistry; Life Sciences; Structural Biology
• ISSN: 2516-0230; 2516-0230
• DOI: 10.1039/d0na00992j

Lead halide perovskite (LHP) based colloidal quantum dots ( CQDs ) have tremendous potential for photocatalysis due to their exceptional optical properties. However, their applicability in catalysis is restricted due to poor chemical stability and low recyclability. We report halide-passivated, monodisperse CsPbBr 3 CQDs as a stable and efficient visible-light photocatalyst for organic transformations. We demonstrate oxidative aromatization of a wide range of heterocyclic substrates including examples which are poor hydrogen transfer (HAT) reagents. Two to five-fold higher rate kinetics were observed for reactions catalyzed by CsPbBr 3 CQDs in comparison with bulk-type CsPbBr 3 (PNCs) or conventionally synthesized CsPbBr 3 CQDs and other metal organic dyes (rhodamine 6G and [Ru(bpy) 3 ] 2+ ). Furthermore, these CQDs exhibit improved air-tolerance and photostability and in turn show a higher turnover number (TON) of 200, compared to conventionally prepared CQDs (TON = 166) and state-of-the-art bulk-type perovskite-based catalyst (TON = 177). Our study paves the way for the practical applicability of energy-level tunable, size-controlled LHP CQDs as efficient photocatalysts in organic synthesis. Lead halide perovskite (LHP) based colloidal quantum dots ( CQDs ) have tremendous potential for photocatalysis due to their exceptional optical properties.