Scientists at Dresden University of Technology have transformed algal mineral shells into functional perovskites with unique crystal structures and controllable electro-optical properties
Perovskite is an increasingly popular material for a wide range of applications due to its remarkable electrical, optical, and photonic properties. Perovskite materials have the potential to revolutionize fields such as solar energy, sensing and detection, photocatalysis, and lasers.
The properties of perovskite can be tailored for specific applications by changing the chemical composition and internal structure, including the distribution and orientation of the crystal structure. At present, the ability to influence these properties is severely limited by manufacturing methods. A team of scientists at the Dresden University of Technology were able to take advantage of years of evolution of these single-celled organisms to create perovskites with unique nanostructures and crystalline properties from algae.
take advantage of evolution
“For hundreds of millions of years, single-celled organisms have responded to a variety of environmental factors such as temperature, pH and mechanical stress. We generated biomaterials,” said Dr. Igor Zlotnikov, research group leader at the Center for Molecular Biotechnology B CUBE, who led the research. “Biologically formed minerals often exhibit structural and crystallographic features that far exceed the production capabilities offered by current synthetic methods.”
The team turned to L. granifera, a type of algae that uses calcite to form its shell. Their spherical shells have a unique crystal structure. The crystals are arranged radially. That is, it spreads outward from the center of the sphere. “Current methods of manufacturing perovskites do not allow synthetic fabrication of such materials. However, existing natural structures can be converted into functional materials while preserving the original structure.” he adds Dr. Zlotnikov.
chemical tuning
To convert the algae’s natural mineral shell into a functional perovskite, the team had to replace chemical elements in calcite. To that end, they adopted a method developed by a collaborator at his AMOLF Institute in Amsterdam. During the transformation, scientists were able to produce different types of crystal structures by altering the chemical structure of the material. In this way, we were able to fine-tune the electro-optical properties.
By converting the calcite shell to lead halides with either iodine, bromide, or chloride, the team created functional perovskites optimized to emit only red, green, or blue light. I was able to create it.
Preparing for scale-up
“We have shown for the first time that minerals produced by single-celled organisms can be transformed into technologically relevant functional materials. We can,” says Dr. Zronikov.
The methods his team developed can be scaled up, allowing industry to take advantage of algae and numerous other calcite-forming unicellular organisms to produce functional materials with unique shapes and crystallographic properties. Possibilities open up.
Original: Scientists transform algae into unique functional perovskites with tunable properties
Than: TU Dresden
