SBIR Phase I: Silicon Quantum-dot Phosphors for LED General Illumination

SBIR 第一阶段：用于 LED 普通照明的硅量子点荧光粉

• 批准号: 1248981
• 负责人: Chang-Ching Tu
• 金额: $ 15万
• 依托单位: LumiSands, Inc.
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2013
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2013-01-01 至 2013-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1248981&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: SBIR; Phase; Silicon; Quantum; dot

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project seeks to greatly improve the light output of white-light light-emitting diodes (LEDs) using fluorescent nanoparticles or quantum dots (QDs) made from silicon. The most efficient and economical design for a contemporary white LED is based on a blue LED chip which excites a yellow-emitting rare-earth phosphor. This particular mix of blue and yellow hues produces a cool and bluish-white light which cannot faithfully render some colors in illuminated objects, especially in the case of red tones. The proposed solution places red-color-enhancing silicon-QDs (SiQDs) in the beam-path of these white LEDs; by absorbing some of the blue light output and re-emitting red light, the SiQDs complement the absent red spectrum, and thus improve the overall color rendering performance. The company has thus far established baseline methodologies for the scalable production of brightly luminescing SiQDs. This Phase I project will enable the company to improve the performance of said SiQDs, and also establish their long-term performance stability.The broader impact/commercial potential of this project is to develop SiQDs that can ultimately replace current rare-earth-derived phosphors. China has a virtual monopoly over global rare-earth supply, and is enacting draconian restrictions on extraction and exportation to capitalize on its position. The cost of rare-earth phosphors used in packaged white-light LEDs is thus set to soar because of the dwindling supply and increasing market demand for additional rare-earth phosphors (such as europium-doped nitrides or sulfides) to generate reds for premium LED offerings. Hence, an earth-abundant and cost-effective alternative phosphor material is desperately needed. Semiconductor QDs are considered a promising solution due to their wide-range wavelength-tunability and high photoluminescence quantum yield. Because of the inert nature and the abundance of silicon, SiQDs can provide a non-toxic, high-stability, and lower cost solution, in comparison with established heavy-metal cadmium-chalcogenide QD materials (such as CdSe QDs). The project will serve as the first step in the development of a repertoire of products which permit the creation of all visible light wavelengths via SiQD-phosphors, allowing white-light LEDs to be free from the need for rare-earth- and cadmium-based phosphors. This will in turn make LED lighting more aesthetically attractive, affordable, and environmentally friendly.

该小型企业创新研究第一阶段项目旨在使用硅制成的荧光纳米颗粒或量子点（QD）大大提高白光发光二极管（LED）的光输出。 当代白色LED的最有效和最经济的设计是基于蓝色LED芯片，该芯片激发黄色发射稀土磷光体。这种蓝色和黄色色调的特殊混合产生了一种冷的蓝白色光，这种光不能忠实地呈现被照亮物体的某些颜色，特别是在红色色调的情况下。 提出的解决方案将红色增强硅量子点（SiQD）放置在这些白色LED的光路中;通过吸收一些蓝光输出并重新发射红光，SiQD补充了缺失的红色光谱，从而提高了整体显色性能。 到目前为止，该公司已经建立了可扩展生产明亮发光SiQD的基线方法。该项目的第一阶段将使该公司能够提高所述SiQD的性能，并建立其长期性能稳定性。该项目的更广泛影响/商业潜力是开发最终可以取代当前稀土衍生荧光粉的SiQD。 中国实际上垄断了全球稀土供应，并正在制定严格的开采和出口限制，以利用其地位。因此，用于封装白光LED的稀土磷光体的成本将飙升，因为供应减少和对额外稀土磷光体（如掺铕氮化物或硫化物）的市场需求增加，以产生优质LED产品的红色。 因此，迫切需要一种地球资源丰富且具有成本效益的替代磷光体材料。 半导体量子点由于其宽范围的波长可调谐性和高的光致发光量子产率而被认为是一种有前途的解决方案。由于硅的惰性性质和丰度，与已建立的重金属镉-硫属化物QD材料（例如CdSe QD）相比，SiQD可以提供无毒、高稳定性和较低成本的解决方案。该项目将作为开发一系列产品的第一步，这些产品允许通过SiQD磷光体产生所有可见光波长，从而使白光LED不需要稀土和镉基磷光体。 这反过来又会使LED照明更具美观吸引力、价格实惠且环保。