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Well-defined flowerlike Bi₂O₂CO₃ nanostructures were fabricated by a simple one-pot solvothermal method with high yield. The products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, nitrogen sorption, photoluminescence spectra and UV–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The photocatalytic properties of the as-prepared samples were further investigated by photocatalytic decomposition of Rhodamine B (RhB) dye, and it was found that the Bi₂O₂CO₃ nanoflowers showed a good photocatalytic activity under UV light. The excellent photocatalytic performance of Bi₂O₂CO₃ flowerlike nanostructures is related to its special nanostructure and morphology, indicates its potential application in photocatalysis and nanosensors.

Herein, we report a novel layered lead bromide, (CH₃CH${}_2{)}_3$N${}^{+}$Br${}^{-}$(CH${}_2{)}_2$NH${}_3^{+})$PbBr₃, where bulky organic cations, (CH₃CH${}_2{)}_3$N${}^{+}$Br${}^{-}$(CH${}_2{)}_2$NH${}_3^{+})$, amino-ethyl triethyl ammonium [aetriea] were not only incorporated between the inorganic layers but also sandwiched within the inorganic [PbBr₆]${}^{4-}$ octahedral layered structure. The UV-Visible, photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and a field-emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) result show that the new perovskitoid has a microrod shape with an estimated bandgap of $\sim$3.05 eV. The structural and optoelectronic properties of the [aetriea]PbBr₃perovskitoid were further corroborated by first-principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) data show good stability of the [aetriea]PbBr₃perovskitoid. Time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) decays from new [aetriea]PbBr₃perovskitoid showing 6 ns average lifetime. These results suggest that doubly charged cation hybrid perovskite materials are potential candidates for optoelectronic applications.