Composition-Dependent Photoluminescence Properties and Anti-Counterfeiting Applications of A2AgX3 (A = Rb, Cs; X = Cl, Br, I)

Copper(I) halides are emerging as attractive alternatives to lead halide perovskites for optical and electronic applications. However, blue-emitting all-inorganic copper(I) halides suffer from poor stability and lack of tunability of their photoluminescence (PL) properties. Here, the preparation of silver(I) halides A(2)AgX(3) (A = Rb, Cs; X = Cl, Br, I) through solid-state synthesis is reported. In contrast to the Cu(I) analogs, A(2)AgX(3) are broad-band emitters sensitive to A and X site substitutions. First-principle calculations show that defect-bound excitons are responsible for the observed main PL peaks in Rb2AgX3 and that self-trapped excitons (STEs) contribute to a minor PL peak in Rb2AgBr3. This is in sharp contrast to Rb2CuX3, in which the PL is dominated by the emission by STEs. Moreover, the replacement of Cu(I) with Ag(I) in A(2)AgX(3) significantly improves photostability and stability in the air under ambient conditions, which enables their consideration for practical applications. Thus, luminescent inks based on A(2)AgX(3) are prepared and successfully used in anti-counterfeiting applications. The excellent light emission properties, significantly improved stability, simple preparation method, and tunable light emission properties demonstrated by A(2)AgX(3) suggest that silver(I) halides may be attractive alternatives to toxic lead halide perovskites and unstable copper(I) halides for optical applications.