Artificial synapses based on resistive switching have emerged as a promising avenue for brain-inspired computing. Hybrid metal halide perovskites have provided the opportunity to simplify resistive switching device architectures due to their mixed electronic–ionic conduction, yet the instabilities under operating conditions compromise their reliability. We demonstrate reliable resistive switching and synaptic behaviour in layered benzylammonium (BzA) based halide perovskites of (BzA)₂PbX₄ composition (X = Br, I), showing a transformation of the resistive switching from digital to analog with the change of the halide anion. While (BzA)₂PbI₄ devices demonstrate gradual set and reset processes with reduced power consumption, the (BzA)₂PbBr₄ system features a more abrupt switching behaviour. Moreover, the iodide-based system displays excellent retention and endurance, whereas bromide-based devices achieve a superior on/off ratio. The underlying mechanism is attributed to the migration of halide ions and the formation of halide vacancy conductive filaments. As a result, the corresponding devices emulate synaptic characteristics, demonstrating the potential for neuromorphic computing. Such resistive switching and synaptic behaviour highlight (BzA)₂PbX₄ perovskites as promising candidates for non-volatile memory and neuromorphic computing.

The relatively easy tunability of perovskites’ energy gap, as well as the synthesis of mixed halide perovskites, make them highly versatile and compatible with others semiconductor materials to produce efficient tandem solar cells.

Hybrid organic-inorganic nanostructures offer significant potential for developing advanced functional materials with numerous technological applications. However, the fabrication process is often tedious and time-consuming. This study presents a facile method for fabricating block copolymer-based photonic microspheres incorporating plasmonic gold nanoparticles. Specifically, the confined self-assembly of poly(styrene)-b-poly(2-vinylpyridine) in emulsion droplets allows the formation of spherical, noniridescent, concentric lamellar structures, i.e., onion-like particles that are subsequently infiltrated with gold salt. Using ethanol as a preferential solvent allows the loading of metal ions exclusively into the poly(2-vinylpyridine) domains, which are subsequently reduced, leading to the in situ, spatially controlled formation of gold nanoparticles. The hybrid structures exhibit a well-defined photonic bandgap and plasmonic resonance at low gold concentrations. These results demonstrate the feasibility of fabricating optically active photonic structures comprising metal nanoparticles in a block copolymer array via a simple two-step fabrication process.

In order to move towards large-scale fabrication, perovskite solar cells need to detach themselves from strictly controlled environmental conditions and, to this end, fabrication in ambient air is highly desirable. Formamidinium iodide perovskite (FAPI) is one of the most promising perovskites but is also unstable at room temperature, which may make the ambient air deposition more difficult. Herein, we investigated different formulations of pure FAPI for the fabrication of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) in air. We found that formulations using a mixture of N,N-Dimethylformamide (DMF): N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) and only dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) are suitable for the deposition in air. To fabricate inverted p-i-n solar cells, we tested different hole transporting layers (HTLs) and observed the effects on the wettability of the perovskite solution and on the performance. A self-assembly monolayer of 2PACz (2-(9H-Carbazol-9-yl)ethyl]phosphonic acid) was found to be the best option as a HTL, allowing us to achieve efficiencies >15% on both FTO and ITO.

Hybrid materials that integrate photonic and magnetic functionalities are a major focus of next-generation nanotechnology, but their scalable production remains a significant challenge. Here, we present a facile strategy to produce hybrid photonic microparticles by coassembling poly-(styrene)-b-poly-(2-vinylpyridine) (PS-P2VP) block copolymers with 10 nm cobalt ferrite nanoparticles within emulsion droplets. This method allows the formation of highly ordered, hierarchical, onion-like structures with alternating concentric layers. Selective localization of the nanoparticles within P2VP domains preserves the periodicity essential for structural coloration while introducing tunable magnetic properties. Optical characterization confirms that the microparticles exhibit a vivid blue structural color and maintain a well-defined photonic bandgap up to a critical nanoparticle concentration, after which the structural order is disrupted. Remarkably, the nanostructure order of the polymer matrix induces a partial alignment of the magnetic easy axis of the nanoparticles, increasing the thermal stability of the magnetization (i.e., increase in the reduced remanent magnetization). This distinctive synergy between photonic and magnetic properties establishes a platform for multifunctional materials with potential applications in magnetically tunable photonic devices, advanced sensors, and responsive materials. The results demonstrate a scalable and versatile approach to fusing photonic architectures with functional nanomaterials, providing design opportunities for next-generation hybrid materials.