Smart Flexible Quantum Dot Lighting

CQD作为下一代智能显示器/照明、光电探测器和图像传感器以及太阳能电池的关键部件正引起人们的极大兴趣。这是因为它们表现出优异和独特的物理性能，如i)高灵敏度和量子效率，ii)具有窄发射(吸收)带宽的优良色域，iii)通过尺寸控制的颜色可调谐/带隙工程，iv)高光稳定性和v)高空气稳定性，因为它们是基于无机材料的。因此，由于CQD LED和图像传感器/光电探测器的最新结果证明了CQD光电子学与当前半导体技术集成的可能性，CQD领域的研究步伐大大加快，目前全球范围内有越来越多的研究小组和公司活跃在这一领域。研究人员预计，CQD LED将通过以下几个方面取代现有技术：(1)几乎无空气障碍的架构中无机结构的卓越可靠性W.r.t OLED(WVTR为10-6g/m2/天)，(2)更低的功耗和更低的产品成本，分别比目前的OLED低60%和50%，以及(3)与OLED通常的80%相比，颜色纯度达到110%或更高。该项目将致力于提高当前技术水平，通过使用连续的、与批量相反的CQD合成、单层无树脂加工、所有无机界面材料，如ETL(电子传输层)和HTL(空穴传输层)，EL CQD LED的器件集成和封装，以及用于智能照明和显示器的无CD cQD来实现成本降低。提出的项目建立在剑桥和牛津的研究小组建立的研究基础上。我们拥有完善的设备，可用于试验制造，使用的技术将为基于CQD LED的照明/显示器的商业化奠定基础。最终交付的产品将是节能的4英寸有源设备，具有可预测的使用寿命，并为灵活的智能照明提供可持续的高亮度。智能灯的元件将包括基于像素有源矩阵切换的色调和亮度控制，也将适用于显示器，但没有相同的高像素清晰度。我们将探索利用连续流动生产方法设计和合成具有核/壳结构的无Cd量子点，然后将其整合到有源器件中。成功实现器件的关键是可规模地生产具有特定表面钝化和功能化的高质量量子点，这限制了杂质和缺陷的影响，并生产出具有良好界面的高质量薄膜。在这个项目中，我们将使用可扩展的生产技术，这些技术可以转移到在线流程中进行大规模生产。我们将重点放在制造和加工方面，以利用干法转移印刷方法创建具有完整紧密堆积和几乎无空隙结构的单层控制的CQD薄膜。这将提高所需设备模式的膜的效率和可靠性。将采用基于单层水平逐层转移过程的界面控制，以获得高度均匀的单层，其可扩展到包括界面层的多层堆叠薄膜处理。在器件集成阶段(WP2-3)，还将设计和制备用于EL器件的具有无机HTL和ETL层的CQD发光薄膜的界面材料。智能柔性照明生产供应链中的工业合作伙伴包括：用于材料、照明、计量的CDT有限公司；用于照明的柔性薄膜的CPI有限公司；用于设备加工和系统集成的Emberion UK、Dyson、FlexEnable、Samsung UK；用于TCF的Aixtron UK；材料供应商Nanoco和默克。

cQD are attracting significant interest as the key components for next-generation smart displays/lightings, photo detectors and image sensors, and solar cells. This is because they show excellent and unique physical properties such as i) high sensitivity and quantum efficiency, ii) excellent colour gamut with narrow emission (absorption) bandwidths, iii) colour tunability/band gap engineering through size control, iv) high photostability and v) high air stability as they are based on inorganic materials. Therefore, since the latest results on cQD LEDs and image sensors/photodetector have demonstrated the possibility of integration of cQD optoelectronics with current semiconducting technologies, the pace of research in the cQD area has been accelerated dramatically and an increasing number of research groups and companies are currently active in this area worldwide. The investigators expect that cQD LED will replace current technologies through: (1) Superior reliability of the inorganic structure in an almost air barrier free architecture w.r.t OLED (WVTR of 10-6 g/m2/day), (2) Lower power consumption and low product cost, 60 and 50 % less than current OLED, respectively, and (3) Colour purity of 110% or greater compared to typically 80% for OLED. This project will address will enhance the current state of the art to achieve cost reduction through using continuous, as opposed batch, cQD synthesis, mono layer resin free processing, all inorganic interface materials such as ETL (electron transport layer) and HTL (hole transport layer), device integration and packaging for EL cQD LED, with Cd-free cQDs for smart lighting and displays. The project proposed builds upon research established in the investigators' groups in Cambridge and Oxford. We are well equipped with facilities for pilot fabrication using technologies which will underpin the commercialisation of cQD LED based lighting/displays. The final deliverable will be energy efficient 4" active devices with predictable life times, and sustainable high brightness for flexible smart lighting. The elements of the smart light which will include colour hue and brightness control based on active matrix switching of pixels will also be applicable to displays, but without the same high pixel definition. We shall explore the design and synthesis of Cd-free cQDs with the core/shell structures using continuous flow production methods which can then be incorporated into active devices. Key to successfully implementing devices are the scalable production of high quality cQDs with specific surface passivation and functionalisation which limit the effects of impurities and defects and produce high quality thin films with well understood interfaces. In this project we will use scalable production techniques that can be transferred to in-line process for mass production. We shall focus on the manufacturing and processing aspects to create mono layer-controlled cQD films with entire close-packed and almost void free structure using dry-transfer printing methods. This will enhance efficiency and reliability of film for the desired mode of devices. Interface control based on a monolayer level layer-by-layer transfer process will be employed in order to obtain highly uniform monolayers which can be expanded to multilayer stacked film processing including interface layers. The interface materials for emissive cQD film with inorganic HTL and ETL layer for EL devices will also be designed and fabricated at the device integration step (WP 2-3). Driving electronics using TFTs will be designed for reliable and stable operation.Industrial partners in the supply chain for smart flexible lighting production, are: CDT Ltd for materials, lighting, metrology; CPI Ltd, Dupont-Teijin Films UK for flexible films for lighting; Emberion UK, Dyson, FlexEnable, Samsung UK for device processing, and system integration; Aixtron UK for TCF; Nanoco and Merck as materials suppliers and EAB members.