SBIR Phase I: Colloidal Quantum Dot Emitters for Deep Ultraviolet Light Emitting Diodes

这个小型企业创新研究第一阶段的研究项目旨在开发一种制造深紫外LED的新方法，该方法将允许更宽的波长范围，并提供比当前UV LED技术更高的效率。现有技术的UV LED具有从255 nm到365 nm的波长范围，并且通过复杂且昂贵的AlInGaN材料的外延生长来实现。由于晶体质量差，这些器件的外部量子效率较低，导致可靠性较低，寿命比可见光LED短。该项目的目的是证明制造UV LED的技术的可行性，该技术包括使用胶体量子点并绕过对复杂的多量子阱外延有源层的需要。这种方法将减少晶体质量对外量子效率的影响。制造更高效率的深紫外LED的能力开辟了广泛的紫外LED阵列，可用于消毒应用，如空气，水和表面。目前，这些应用都是用昂贵的、寿命短的紫外线灯或对环境有害的化学品来实现的。LED提供了一种不影响环境的消毒机制，并提供了更长的使用寿命和成本优势。安全应用也为UV LED带来了不断增长的市场。在深紫外范围内的发射使非视线通信设备以及生物制剂检测的发展成为可能。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I research project seeks to develop a novel method of fabricating deep UV LEDs which will allow for wider wavelength ranges as well as provide higher efficiencies than current UV LED technologies. State of the art UV LEDs have wavelength ranges from 255nm to 365nm and are achieved through complex and expensive epitaxial growth of AlInGaN materials. External quantum efficiencies are low for these devices due to poor crystal quality, resulting in lower reliability and shorter lifetimes than visible LEDs. The objective of this project is to prove the feasibility of fabricating UV LEDs with a technique that includes the use of colloidal quantum dots and bypasses the need for complicated multiple quantum well epitaxial active layers. This method would reduce the effect the crystal quality has on external quantum efficiency. The ability to fabricate higher efficiency deep UV LEDs opens up a wide array of UV LEDs can be used for disinfection applications, such as air, water, and surfaces. These applications are currently being accomplished with expensive, short lifetime UV lamps or with environmentally harmful chemicals. LEDs provide a mechanism for disinfection that does not impact the environment, as well as offering longer lifetimes, and cost advantages. Security applications are also producing a growing market for UV LEDs. Emission in the deep UV range enables the development of non-line of sight communication devices as well as biological agent detection.