Self-Healing Polymer-Based Encapsulation for Lead-Sealed, Submersible, Stretchable and Scalable Modular Perovskite-Based Optoelectronics

Despite drastic advances in the performance of halide perovskite-based optoelectronics, operational stability still remains a challenge towards commercialization. Among various encapsulation strategies reported to date, glass-based encapsulation serves as one of the only solution which provides operational stability against the damp heat test. However, glass-based encapsulation lacks the ability to contain lead upon physical impact and does not offer flexibility/stretchability, significantly limiting the application of halide perovskite-based optoelectronics.<br/>Here, we devise a multi-functional encapsulation scheme utilizing hydrogen bond-based self-healing polymers as a simple platform to guarantee operational stability, lead sequestration, and flexibility/stretchability. Utilizing self-healing polymer-based encapsulation, a long-term operational stability of over 1,000 h under 50 °C/50% RH was achieved in halide perovskite-based solar cells. More importantly, Pb in physically damaged halide perovskite-based optoelectronic devices were completely contained within the self-healing encapsulation as indicated by in vitro cytotoxicity tests. In stark contrast to glass encapsulated devices, self-healing polymer encapsulated devices were able to accommodate casual bending and stretching flexibility while maintaining their original pperformance. Finally, we demonstrate the concept of user-defined scalable modular optoelectronics (akin to building LEGO blocks) based on self-healing polymer encapsulated halide perovskite-based solar cells and light emitting diodes.<br/>We expect this versatile encapsulation platform to provide a simple, but practical solution to resolving the multi-faceted challenge in the field of halide perovskites.