The rapid advancement of solid-state lighting technology has made white LEDs the preferred choice for energy-efficient illumination. Nevertheless, commercial white LEDs based on blue chips and yellow phosphors suffer from inadequate red components and poor spectral continuity, leading to low color rendering index (CRI). Lead-free Cs-Cu-I perovskites, with their unique self-trapped exciton (STE) emission, offer a promising single-component white-light platform, yet their low photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) remains a major obstacle. Therefore, enhancing both the PLQY and spectral coverage of Cs-Cu-I is critically important.
A team led by Aiwei Tang professor from Beijing Jiaotong University recently reported a Zn 2+ doping strategy for Cs-Cu-I perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) to achieve high-CRI white LEDs, advancing eco-friendly solid-state lighting.
The team published their research paper in Nano Research on July 12, 2026.
Commercial white LEDs suffer from poor color rendering due to insufficient red emission. Cs-Cu-I perovskites offer a promising alternative with their broadband STE emission, yet their low PLQY remains a major obstacle that limits practical applications.
“In this work, we present a Zn 2+ doping strategy to boost the optical performance of Cs 3 Cu 2 I 5 NCs via enhanced STE formation. This study not only clarifies the mechanism of ion doping but also provides a new pathway for fabricating high-quality, environmentally friendly white LEDs.” Said Aiwei Tang, the corresponding author of this research paper, a professor in the School of Physical Sciences and Engineering at Beijing Jiaotong University.
The evaluation criteria for white LEDs are to have a high CRI and stable Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage (CIE) coordinates.
“Our results demonstrate that Zn 2+ doping significantly enhances PLQY of Cs 3 Cu 2 I 5 NCs, enabling the fabrication of white LEDs with a CRI as high as 94.5 and CIE coordinates of (0.33, 0.33). To systematically evaluate its performance, the electroluminescence spectra and color rendering performance were characterized under different driving currents. Additionally, stability tests were conducted through continuous operation for 100 hours and storage under ambient conditions for two months, further confirming the device's long-term reliability for practical solid-state lighting applications.” Said Jie Chen, the 1st author of this paper, a doctoral student in the School of Physical Sciences and Engineering at Beijing Jiaotong University.
Other contributors include Feng Teng, Zhe Yin and Yu Li from the School of Physical Sciences and Engineering and the Key Laboratory of Luminescence and Optical Information Ministry of Education at Jiaotong University in Beijing, China; and Tao Yin, Jinxing Zhao and Li Guan from the College of Physics Science and Technology and the Hebei Key Laboratory of Photo-Electricity Information and Materials at Hebei University in Baoding, China.
This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 12274021, 12574429) and Beijing Natural Science Foundation (Z220007).
DOI Link:
https://doi.org/10.26599/NR.2026.94909020
About Nano Research
Nano Research is a peer-reviewed, open access, international and interdisciplinary research journal, sponsored by Tsinghua University and the Chinese Chemical Society, published by Tsinghua University Press on the platform SciOpen. It publishes original high-quality research and significant review articles on all aspects of nanoscience and nanotechnology, ranging from basic aspects of the science of nanoscale materials to practical applications of such materials. After 18 years of development, it has become one of the most influential academic journals in the nano field. Nano Research has published more than 1,000 papers every year from 2022, with its cumulative count surpassing 8,000 articles. In 2025 InCites Journal Citation Reports, its 2025 IF is 9.4 (8.3, 5 years), and it continues to be the Q1 area among the four subject classifications. Nano Research Award, established by Nano Research together with TUP and Springer Nature in 2013, and Nano Research Young Innovators (NR45) Awards, established by Nano Research in 2018, have become international academic awards with global influence.
Nano Research
Zn2+-doped Cs-Cu-I perovskite nanocrystals for white light-emitting diodes with high color rendering index
12-Jul-2026