Self-Assembled Rare Earth Doped Nanostructured Metal Aluminate Phosphors

With the development of efficient blue-emitting LEDs and UV-emitting LEDs, the production of efficient white light sources, by combining LEDs with appropriate phosphors, is at hand. The white light can produced by coating the LEDS with a phosphor that absorbs a proportion of the blue/UV light emitted by the diodes and then emits a band of wavelengths that, when mixed with the blue light, produces white light. Either a single broad yellow phosphor or a combination of green and red phosphors will produce the desired effect. However, these phosphors do not emit the broad spectrum white light desired for general illumination. This project will develop technology for fine tuning multiple phosphors into a single material that will enable the production of a broad-spectrum white phosphor for blue- and UV-LEDs. The approach is based on a process that inexpensively produces phosphor precursors at room temperature. These phosphor precursors can be self-assembled into a scaffold-like crystal structure that allows the composition and morphology of the resulting phosphors to be finely controlled. Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee: Solid state lighting has the potential to significantly reduce lighting-related energy consumption in commercial buildings (the largest consumer of electricity). The cooler LEDs also would reduce air conditioning loads in these buildings. Environmental benefits include reducing the need for new power plants, which also would reduce the release of carbon dioxide and air pollutants such as SO2 and mercury. The use of solid sate lighting also reduces the presence of mercury (used in fluorescent lights) in the workplace and the home.