Dual-Handed Circularly Polarized Luminescence from Polymer Fiber-Confined and Stabilized Perovskite Nanocrystals in Hydrated Liquid Crystals

Abstract

Circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) is of interest for optical encryption and anticounterfeiting applications. However, achieving dual-handed CPL emission from perovskite nanocrystals (PNCs) in hydrated chiral liquid crystal systems remains a challenge because of their susceptibility to water-induced degradation and disruption of liquid crystal ordering. These issues limit luminescence efficiency, structural integrity, and chiroptical control. Here, a confinement strategy is presented using polymer-encapsulated perovskite nanofibers, which isolate PNCs from water while supporting the in situ self-assembly of cellulose nanocrystals into a cholesteric photonic framework. The resulting solid-state composite achieves high photoluminescence quantum yield (65.56%), mechanical strength (32.15 MPa), and a broad dissymmetry factor range (glum from −0.96 to +0.49) from a single left-handed cholesteric structure. Importantly, by engineering the reflectivity of asymmetric bilayer architectures, the composite exhibits enhanced dual-handed CPL emission depending on the viewing direction. The multimodal optical properties demonstrated here highlight the potential of this system in optical encryption and anticounterfeiting applications.