Theo Siegrist

We have prepared and identified as a single phase the high-temperature superconducting compound in the chemical system Y-Ba-Cu-O, an orthorhombic, distorted oxygen-deficient perovskite of stoichiometry ${\mathrm{Ba}}_{2}$${\mathrm{YCu}}_{3}$${\mathrm{O}}_{9\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{\ensuremath{\delta}}}$ (\ensuremath{\delta}\ensuremath{\simeq}2.1). Samples exhibit zero resistance at 91 K, with a transition width of 1.5 K. The Meissner effect attains a value of 76% of the independently measured diamagnetic susceptibility. We estimate parameters that characterize this superconductor, e.g., \ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{\simeq}3--5 mJ (mole Cu${)}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$ ${\mathrm{K}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}2}$. The critical current density at 77 K and H=0 exceeds 1100 A/${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$.

Abstract Organic-inorganic hybrid metal halide perovskites, an emerging class of solution processable photoactive materials, welcome a new member with a one-dimensional structure. Herein we report the synthesis, crystal structure and photophysical properties of one-dimensional organic lead bromide perovskites, C 4 N 2 H 14 PbBr 4 , in which the edge sharing octahedral lead bromide chains [PbBr 4 2− ] ∞ are surrounded by the organic cations C 4 N 2 H 14 2+ to form the bulk assembly of core-shell quantum wires. This unique one-dimensional structure enables strong quantum confinement with the formation of self-trapped excited states that give efficient bluish white-light emissions with photoluminescence quantum efficiencies of approximately 20% for the bulk single crystals and 12% for the microscale crystals. This work verifies once again that one-dimensional systems are favourable for exciton self-trapping to produce highly efficient below-gap broadband luminescence, and opens up a new route towards superior light emitters based on bulk quantum materials.

Organometal halide perovskites have recently emerged as a highly promising class of functional materials for a variety of applications. The exceptional structural tunability enables these materials to possess three- (3D), two- (2D), one- (1D), and zero-dimensional (0D) structures at the molecular level. Remarkable progress has been realized in the research of perovskites in recent years, focusing mainly on 3D and 2D structures but leaving low-dimensional 1D and 0D structures significantly underexplored. Here we offer our perspective on the most exciting developments in the low-dimensional organometal halide perovskites. Due to the strong quantum confinement and site isolation, 1D and 0D perovskites exhibit remarkable and useful properties that are significantly different from those of 3D and 2D perovskites. The excitement about the recent developments lies not only in the specific achievements but also in what these materials represent in terms of a new paradigm in materials design.