Coupling Intracompound Charge Transfer and Cluster-Centered Excited States in Cu(I) Halide Hybrids for Efficient White Light Emission

0D hybrid organic–inorganic metal halides have attracted significant interest due to their unique optoelectronic properties, but attainment of efficient and stable white light emission (WLE) in such compounds remains a challenge. Here, efficient WLE via a molecular design that couples intracompound charge transfer and cluster-centered excited states in 0D halide hybrids is demonstrated. Two Cu(I) halide hybrids, K(18-crown-6)Cu₂Br₃ and Na₄(18-crown-6)₅In₂Cu₄Br₁₄·8H₂O, are synthesized wherein luminescent [Cu₄Br₆]²⁻ clusters are isolated from each other and surrounded by 18-crown-6 coordinated alkali metal cations. In the case of K(18-crown-6)Cu₂Br₃, [Cu₄Br₆]²⁻ clusters are only partially isolated, leading to strong orange emission with a photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of 53% under UV excitation. Strikingly, to a larger extent of isolation as that, in Na₄(18-crown-6)₅In₂Cu₄Br₁₄·8H₂O as a result of the incorporation of nonemissive [InBr₄]⁻ clusters, intense white light emission with a PLQY of 97% is achieved. The dual cluster-centered states, coupled with a mixed metal-to-ligand and halide-to-ligand charge transfer state, are responsible for this bright white luminescence. This work provides new design principles for expanding the materials library for single-component, solid-state WLE.