New Solid State Lighting Materials

70687S02-II Using current technologies, the generation of light is expensive and detrimental to the environment. New, solid state lighting technology offers the potential of providing dramatic increases in efficiency at costs that are as low as or lower than the costs of current lighting systems. This project will develop highly efficient, color tunable, and easily processed electrophosphorescent polymers that offer the best cost/performance combination of all possible solid state lighting technologies. In Phase I, very efficient red and green phosphorescent polymers were developed and electroluminescent devices fabricated. A unique structural concept that controls the energy flow within the emitting layer was developed, allowing different color phosphors to be mixed without energy transfer. The potential for generating white light from a single-layer polymeric light-emitting diode was verified. Phase II will develop white-emitting electroluminescent materials and devices suitable for solid-state lighting applications. A concept to control energy flow within the emitting layer, together with a building block approach, will be used to prepare and evaluate a large number of polymers and blends. The material and device structures will be optimized so that the phosphors that can meet the performance and cost requirements of solid-state lighting systems. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by awardee: The cost/performance characteristics of the proposed polymer light emitting diodes should enable broad lighting applications in both commercial and military sectors. Other photonic applications include displays, lasers, sensors, and photovoltaic devices.