Investigation of the Mn dopant-enhanced photoluminescence performance of lead-free Cs 2 AgInCl 6 double perovskite crystals.

The lead-free double perovskite Cs2AgInCl6 is a potential candidate for LEDs, the photoluminescence performance of which is reinforced greatly by Mn doping. Here, we analyzed the geometric, electronic and photoluminescence properties of Mn-doped Cs2AgInCl6 by means of first-principle calculations. We found that in the interior of Cs2AgInCl6, the Mn dopant formed defect complexes by substituting an Ag atom and generating an Ag vacancy (MnAgVAg) owing to the charge balance and the weak distortion of the metal octahedra. The MnAgVAg defect introduced two defect bands in the forbidden gap, which was contributed predominantly by the 3d orbitals of the Mn2+ ions. The electron transition of the Mn2+ ions from the first excited state to the ground state, i.e., from T-4(1) to (6)A(1) states, gives rise to the PL spectrum that is lower than the bandgap. Therefore, we show that the Mn dopant indeed reinforces the PL performance of Cs(2)AgInC(l)6 greatly and is beneficial for its use as an LED material.