Pivotal role of ballistic and quasi-ballistic electrons on LED efficiency

Significant progress in the power conversion efficiency and brightness of InGaN-based light emitting diodes (LEDs) has paved the way for these devices to be considered for LED lighting. In this realm, however, the efficiency must be retained at high injection levels in order to generate the lumens required. Unfortunately, LEDs undergo a monotonic efficiency degradation starting at current densities even lower than 50 A/cm² which would hinder LED insertion into the general lighting market. The physical origins for the loss of efficiency retention are at present a topic of intense debate given its enormous implications. This paper reviews the current status of the field regarding the mechanisms that have been put forward as being responsible for the loss of efficiency, such as Auger recombination, electron overflow (spillover), current crowding, asymmetric injection of electrons and holes, and poor transport of holes through the active region, the last one being applicable to multiple quantum well designs. While the Auger recombination received early attention, increasing number of researchers seem to think otherwise at the moment in that it alone (if any) cannot explain the progressively worsening loss of efficiency reduction as the InN mole fraction is increased. Increasing number of reports seems to suggest that the electron overflow is one of the major causes of efficiency degradation. The physical driving force for this is likely to be the relatively poor hole concentration and transport, and skewed injection favoring electrons owing to their relatively high concentration. Most intriguingly there is recent experimental convincing evidence to suggest that quasi-ballistic electrons in the active region, which are not able to thermalize within the residence time and possibly longitudinal optical phonon lifetime, contribute to the carrier overflow which would require an entirely new thought process in the realm of LEDs.     

Evaluation of current and temperature effects on optical performance of InGaAlP thin-film SMD LED mounted on different substrate packages

The relationship between the photometric, electric, and thermal parameters of light-emitting diodes(LEDs) is important for optimizing the LED illumination design. Indium gallium aluminium phosphide(InGaAlP)-based thin-film surface-mounted device(SMD) LEDs have attracted wide attention in research and development due to their portability and miniaturization. We report the optical characterization of InGaAlP thin-film SMD LED mounted on FR4, 2 W, and 5 W aluminum(Al) packages. The optical and thermal parameters of LED are determined at different injection currents and ambient temperatures by combining the T3ster(thermal transient tester) and TeraL ED(thermal and radiometric characterization of power LEDs) systems. Analysis shows that LED on a 5 W Al substrate package obtains the highest luminous and optical efficiency.     

Light-extraction enhancement and directional emission control of GaN-based LED with transmission grating

We theoretically analyze the improvement in light extraction efficiency (LEE) of GaN-based LEDs with transmission grating. Light propagation and extraction was simulated using the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method for conical, cylindrical, and hemispherical grating. The simulations show that the use of transmission grating leads to increase in the LEE of GaN-based LEDs. The enhancement in LEE is attributed to the decrease in the Fresnel reflection and the effective increase in the photon escape cone. The maximum LEE enhancement of 2.3 times was achieved by employing hemispherical grating. The directional emission pattern converged by employing conical grating.     

Electrical and optical characteristics of various PPV derivatives (MEH-PPV, CzEH-PPV, OxdEH-PPV)

To investigate the electrical characteristics of polymer based light emitting diode (LED) devices, we fabricated the hole transport device (HTD) and the electron transport device (ETD). The ITO and Au with high work function were used as electrodes for the HTD, and the Al and Li:Al with low work function were used for the ETD. The active layer materials were poly[2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylene vinylene] (MEH-PPV), poly[2-(N-carbazolyl)-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylene vinylene] (CzEH-PPV), and poly[2-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-5-phenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole-5(2-ethylhexoxy)-1,4-phenylene vinylene] (OxdEH-PPV). We measured the current density–applied field (J–E) characteristics of the HTD and ETD with various thickness at different temperatures. The results of the J–E curves were analyzed by using tunneling model, space charge limited conduction (SCLC) model, etc. In the SCLC model, the mobility of the hole and the electron of MEH-PPV is 10⁻⁶ and 10⁻⁸ cm²/Vs, respectively. For CzEH-PPV and OxdEH-PPV, the hole mobility is similar to the value of the electron mobility with 10⁻¹⁰ cm²/Vs. The luminescent efficiency of CzEH-PPV or OxdEH-PPV is higher than that of MEH-PPV. The results of photoconductivity of the systems qualitatively agrees with the result of the electrical measurement. We analyze that the balance of the electron and the hole mobility plays an important role for the efficiency of the LEDs.     

基于不同衬底材料高出光效率LED芯片研究进展

提高LED芯片的出光效率是解决LED光源大功率化和可靠性的根本。根据LED芯片所用衬底材料的不同,总结了近年来提高GaN基LED出光效率的研究进展,介绍了新的设计思路、工艺结构与制备方法。并从材料结构和衬底选取方面,对LED芯片未来的发展趋势进行了展望。     

Design of double freeform-surface lens for LED uniform illumination with minimum Fresnel losses

In this study, we demonstrated a double freeform-surface lens to realize uniform illumination and minimum Fresnel losses for light-emitting diode (LED). In the present design, the inner surface and outer surface of the freeform lens were designed simultaneously, thus the light path can be controlled more flexibly. The detailed calculation and design process were presented. Monte Carlo ray-tracing simulation and Fresnel losses calculation were conducted to validate the present freeform lens. The simulation and calculation results indicated that the present freeform lens could enhance the illumination uniformity greatly and realize minimum Fresnel losses as low as 7.67%.     

Optical joint density of states in InGaN/GaN-based multiple-quantum-well light-emitting diodes

The optical joint densities of states of three InGaN/GaN-based light-emitting diodes with different emission wavelengths (violet, blue and green) operated at various currents were investigated. The results indicate that the blueshift of the emission with increasing current is related to the variation in optical joint density of states. Thus, the blueshift is ascribed to the screening of the piezoelectric field by carriers. A tail at the low-energy end of the density of states, corresponding to localized states, was found, and the presence of these tails broadens the spectra of the devices.     

双自由曲面LED均匀照明准直透镜设计

为了克服传统LED准直器在近场难以实现均匀照明的缺陷,设计了一种双自由曲面均匀照明准直透镜.透镜分为折反两部分,每部分都利用双自由曲面进行匀光和准直.根据马吕斯定律,推导了实现光束准直出射的等光程方程,并将切面迭代法加入等光程条件,同步计算准直透镜上下自由曲面的面形数据.仿真分析表明:对1mm×1mm的白光LED芯片,84.55%的能量集中在±2°内,近场照度均匀性达到94.59%,远场照度均匀性为89.01%;当LED芯片尺寸不超过2.0mm×2.0mm时,±4°内的能量利用率大于83.5%,近场照度均匀性在90%以上.该准直透镜能同时实现近场和远场的均匀照明,公差符合装配要求,光能利用率高.     

Large-scale SiO2 photonic crystal for high efficiency GaN LEDs by nanospherical-lens lithography

Wafer-scale SiO2 photonic crystal （PhC） patterns （SiO2 air-hole PhC, SiO2-pillar PhC） on indium tin oxide （ITO） layer of GaN-based light-emitting diode （LED） are fabricated via novel nanospherical-lens lithography. Nanoscale polystyrene spheres are self-assembled into a hexagonal closed-packed monolayer array acting as convex lens for expo- sure using conventional lithography instrument. The light output power is enhanced by as great as 40.5% and 61% over those of as-grown LEDs, for SiO2-hole PhC and SiO2-pillar PhC LEDs, respectively. No degradation to LED electrical properties is found due to the fact that SiO2 PhC structures are fabricated on ITO current spreading electrode. For SiO2- pillar PhC LEDs, which have the largest light output power in all LEDs, no dry etching, which would introduce etching damage, was involved. Our method is demonstrated to be a simple, low cost, and high-yield technique for fabricating the PhC LEDs. Furthermore, the finite difference time domain simulation is also performed to further reveal the emission characteristics of LEDs with PhC structures.     

Hole-transporting property of a chemically hybridized poly(vinylcarbazole)-fullerene

We synthesized a star copolymer of poly(vinylcarbazole) (PVK) branched from a fullerene (C₆₀) center, and investigated its optical absorption and photoluminescence properties. The chemically hybridized PVK-C₆₀ was then employed as a hole-transporting layer of the electroluminescent device with a poly(9,9^′-dihexylfluorene-2,7-divinylene-m-phenylenevinylene-stat-p-phenylenevinylene) (CPDHFPV) emitting layer. The ITO/PVK-C₆₀/CPDHFPV/LiF/Al device showed a strong electroluminescence quenching due to a direct contact of the PVK-C₆₀ and the CPDHFPV layers. In contrast, when an additional PVK layer was introduced between the two layers, the electroluminescence was largely enhanced. The emitted light power of the ITO/PVK-C₆₀/PVK/CPDHFPV/LiF/Al device was improved by 3 times compared with the device without the PVK-C₆₀ layer.     

传统白光LED与远程荧光粉白光LED的发光性能比较

研究了传统白光LED与蓝光激发的球冠形远程荧光粉白光LED在不同电流、不同热沉温度下的发光性能,并对其机理差异展开了探讨。实验结果表明：随热沉温度和驱动电流的上升,传统白光LED的量子效率和电光转换效率急剧下降,并导致其Y/B比（Yellow/Blue Ratio）下降,相关色温上升。而在远程荧光粉白光LED中,其量子效率、光转换效率和相关色温在相同实验条件下变化幅度都较小。由光强空间分布和Y/B比空间分布可知,远程荧光粉白光LED的光强分布呈类似蝠翼分布,且Y/B比空间均匀性远大于传统白光LED。     

传统白光LED与远程荧光粉白光LED的发光性能比较

研究了传统白光LED与蓝光激发的球冠形远程荧光粉白光LED在不同电流、不同热沉温度下的发光性能,并对其机理差异展开了探讨。实验结果表明:随热沉温度和驱动电流的上升,传统白光LED的量子效率和电光转换效率急剧下降,并导致其Y/B比(Yellow/Blue Ratio)下降,相关色温上升。而在远程荧光粉白光LED中,其量子效率、光转换效率和相关色温在相同实验条件下变化幅度都较小。由光强空间分布和Y/B比空间分布可知,远程荧光粉白光LED的光强分布呈类似蝠翼分布,且Y/B比空间均匀性远大于传统白光LED。     

非等温耦合模型下大功率LED特性的研究

本文建立了发光二极管(LED)芯片的非等温多物理场耦合模型。结果表明,芯片内热源集中在多量子阱(MQWs)区域,且靠近p-GaN的第一个量子阱(QW)内的内热源强度最高;焦耳热和非辐射复合热贡献大,而汤姆逊热和帕尔帖热贡献小,可忽略。等温模型与非等温模型的对比表明,在大电流或低冷却能力条件下,芯片内部与芯片衬底温差显著,等温模型无法准确预测芯片性能,需采用非等温模型。     

基于近场均匀照明的LED阵列的优化设计

基于几何光学与辐射照度理论,对菱形、环形和蜂窝状等3种典型LED阵列光源在近场上的照度分布进行研究,推导了不同阵列光源照射到目标面上的总辐射照度表达式,并依据斯派罗法则确定了LED间的最优化距离。进而根据照度公式,对LED阵列进行了仿真和对比分析,得出了不同阵列的光照度分布特点。菱形阵列可以得到较大范围的平坦度,环形阵列的平坦范围较小,能量集中分布在一个圆形范围内,有良好的集光效果,蜂窝状阵列的照度比较集中且占用的面板空间较小,可在一定程度上降低设计成本。     

基于近场均匀照明的LED阵列的优化设计

基于几何光学与辐射照度理论,对菱形、环形和蜂窝状等3种典型LED阵列光源在近场上的照度分布进行研究,推导了不同阵列光源照射到目标面上的总辐射照度表达式,并依据斯派罗法则确定了LED间的最优化距离。进而根据照度公式,对LED阵列进行了仿真和对比分析,得出了不同阵列的光照度分布特点。菱形阵列可以得到较大范围的平坦度,环形阵列的平坦范围较小,能量集中分布在一个圆形范围内,有良好的集光效果,蜂窝状阵列的照度比较集中且占用的面板空间较小,可在一定程度上降低设计成本。     

远程荧光体白光发光二极管的发光性能

研究了高色温和低色温两种球冠状远程荧光粉白光LED在不同电流、不同热沉温度下的发光性能差异.结果表明:在大电流下,LED有源层内由于量子限制斯塔克效应使其峰值波长向短波方向移动,偏离了高色温荧光粉的最佳激发波长,更加接近低色温荧光粉的最佳激发波长.高色温LED的相关色温随电流增加呈上升趋势,低色温LED的相关色温随电流增加呈下降趋势,与它们的量子效率变化引起的色坐标漂移有很大关系.两种LED量子效率和发光效能随热沉温度的升高均呈略微增大的趋势;其中,高色温LED的量子效率和发光效能随电流的增大而减小,而低色温LED的量子效率和发光效能则随电流的增大而升高;高色温LED发光性质较低色温LED好,但色特性的稳定程度不如低色温LED.     

Performance improvement of GaN-based light-emitting diode with a p-InAlGaN hole injection layer

The characteristics of a blue light-emitting diode(LED)with a p-InAlGaN hole injection layer(HIL)is analyzed numerically.The simulation results indicate that the newly designed structure presents superior optical and electrical performance such as an increase in light output power,a reduction in current leakage and alleviation of efficiency droop.These improvements can be attributed to the p-InAlGaN serving as hole injection layers,which can alleviate the band bending induced by the polarization field,thereby improving both the hole injection efficiency and the electron blocking efficiency.     

不同表面结构的半导体发光二极管的效率与寿命的研究

对GaAs基AlGaInP系半导体发光二极管（light emitting diode,LED）提取效率低导致器件发热而寿命缩短等问题进行了分析,提出了一种新型表面结构的LED,在与普通LED相同的外延生长条件下,通过后工艺引入了表面图形并腐蚀出凹凸不平的表面以改变光子传输方向,同时制备了导电光增透层,既增强了电流的扩展同时使得更多的光子能够发射到体外,在相同的注入电流下,新型表面增透结构LED的轴向光强平均是普通LED的15倍,由于光提取效率高,更多的光子能够发射到体外,发热减少,饱和电流更高,达到1 关键词： 表面增透结构 轴向光强 光效 寿命     

量子阱层和垒层具有不同Al组分的270/290/330nm AlGaN基深紫外LED光电性能

为了研究AlGaN量子阱层和垒层中Al组分不同对AlGaN基深紫外发光二极管(LED)光电性能的影响,本文利用MOCVD生长、光刻和干法刻蚀工艺制备了AlGaN量子阱层和垒层具有不同Al组分的270/290/330nm深紫外LED,通过实验和数值模拟计算方法发现,量子阱层和垒层中具有低Al组分紫外LED的AlGaN材料具有较低的位错密度、较高的光输出功率和外量子效率。通过电流-电压(I-V)曲线拟合出的较大的理想因子(3.5)和能带结构图表明,AlGaN深紫外LED的电流产生是隧穿机制占据主导作用,这是因为高Al组分AlGaN量子阱中强极化场造成了有源层区域较大的能带弯曲和电势降。     

LED感应局部加热封装试验研究

采用感应局部加热技术,对大功率发光二极管(LED)封装进行了试验研究。结果表明,由于感应加热对材料和结构具有选择性,封装过程中仅Cu-Sn合金焊料层加热,实现了芯片和覆铜陶瓷基板间的热键合。封装后的LED性能测试表明,该封装技术不仅降低了热阻,使LED在高电流下(4倍电流)仍能保持较低的工作温度,而且降低了热应力和整体高温对芯片结构的损坏,提高了器件性能和可靠性。