Soft optical materials based on the integration of perovskite nanostructures and block copolymers

Metal halide perovskites and their nanostructures have efficient optical absorption and emission in the visible range with high external quantum efficiency. They have been at the forefront of next-generation photovoltaics and optoelectronics applications. But several intrinsic limitations of perovskites including low stability and incompatibility with lithography-based patterning constrains their broader applications. In recent years, the integration of perovskites with polymers especially multifunctional block copolymers (BCPs) has provided a new approach to overcome those issues. The chemical composition and chain architecture of BCPs are critical for achieving synergistic effects with perovskites in their hybrid systems. In this Highlight review article, we provide an overview and critical summary of the recent progress in the creation of perovskite-BCP hybrid structures, with a focus on the different roles of BCPs. The major categories include: (i) BCPs act as the nanopattern template for the spatial control and patterning of perovskite; (ii) BCP micelles or stars act as the template for perovskite nanostructure crystallization; (iii) BCPs act as the macromolecular ligands for perovskite NCs during its solution synthesis; (iv) BCP encapsulation of perovskite NCs into hierarchical composite particles; and (v) BCP incorporation into bulk perovskite and forming bulk composite films. The applications of perovskite-BCP hybrid structures in various fields and the major current challenges are also identified and discussed.