Principal investigator: Wei-Heng Shih
University: Drexel University
Industry partner: AQD Life Sciences, LLC
Lead-based organohalide perovskite nanocrystals (OPNC) have high quantum yield and are excellent imaging agents. However, they are not stable in the aqueous environment of biological systems. When OPNC-forming organohalide perovskite/polymer composite microspheres (PPCM) are covered in polymer, they can produce imaging agents stable for months in water. However, lead is still a major concern for biological systems and the environment. There has been substantial literature in the research of lead-free halide perovskite solar cells using tin to replace lead. Although the oxidation of Sn₂+ to Sn₄+ in ambient conditions renders the MASnI3 solar cells impractical, the polymer protection minimizes this problem. It is a golden opportunity for the biological community to take advantage of the progress in solar cell development to create bright and stable aqueous imaging agents. The goal of this proposal is to create aqueous suspensions of lead-free PPCM that can potentially be used for a variety of imaging applications.