Enhancing photodetector performance via interlayer energy transfer in 2D hybrid perovskite heterostructures

Two-dimensional (2D) organic-inorganic hybrid perovskites (OIHPs) have emerged as promising materials for optoelectronic devices due to their exceptional properties. However, their application is often hindered by limited charge transfer (CT) capabilities, attributed to the insulating organic spacer layers. In this study, we address this challenge by introducing a BA₂MA₂Pb₃I₁₀/PEA₂MA₂Pb₃I₁₀ heterostructure, which leverages interlayer energy transfer (ET) to overcome CT limitations. This ET mechanism leads to a substantial enhancement in photoluminescence (PL) emission, with the heterostructure displaying a ∼2.4-fold increase in PL intensity compared to pristine PEA₂MA₂Pb₃I₁₀. Additionally, encapsulating the heterostructure boosts PL emission by 5.2 times. The impact of ET on device performance was further demonstrated in photodetectors based on this heterostructure. These devices exhibited significant improvements in photoresponse, achieving a maximum responsivity of 10 A W⁻¹, which are almost 10 times greater than those of devices fabricated from the individual BA₂MA₂Pb₃I₁₀ and PEA₂MA₂Pb₃I₁₀ devices. Additionally, the heterostructure device demonstrates rapid response times, with a rise time of 7 ms and a decay time of 4 ms, significantly outperforming both the pure BA₂MA₂Pb₃I₁₀ device (450 ms rise, 470 ms decay) and the PEA₂MA₂Pb₃I₁₀ device (350 ms rise, 370 ms decay). These findings highlight ET as an effective strategy for enhancing the optoelectronic performance of 2D OIHP-based devices, paving the way for high-efficiency applications in future photodetectors and other optoelectronic technologies. © 2025 IOP Publishing Ltd. All rights, including for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies, are reserved.