The Key Role of the Interface in the Highly Sensitive Mechanochromic Luminescence Properties of Hybrid Perovskites

Hybrid perovskite (HP) materials are of interest in photovoltaics and lighting applications. Here we report that hybrid perovskite composites, as crystallized powders, can behave as intelligent materials showing highly sensitive and reversible mechanochromic luminescence (MCL). Composites consisting of monolayered 2D HP and 3D HP components exhibit reversible tunable color emission upon mechanical strain. The bluish-whitish emission of the 2D HP turns into orange in the composite owing to an energy transfer process. The bright green emission, observed as soon as the composite is slightly crushed, originates from the 3D HP after efficient energy funneling from the multi-layered 2D HP produced at the 2D/3D interface by the mechanical treatment. Besides highlighting the key role of the interfaces in light emission of HP, our findings pave the way for hybrid perovskites as highly sensitive MCL smart materials for mechanosensors, security papers, or optical storage applications.