High Performance, Silicon Nanocrystal-Enhanced Organic Light Emitting Diodes for General Lighting

75652-Silicon nanoparticles hold great promise for being highly efficient, color-tunable, and cost-effective white-light-emitting devices capable of performing to the high standards of the general illumination market. The problem is that the particles need to be properly passivated in order to unlock these benefits. This project will develop a novel core-shell passivation scheme to stabilize silicon nanocrystals. In Phase I, silicon nanocrystals will be introduced to an innovative passivation scheme that coats them with novel inorganic shells. Two different core-shell combinations will be explored, and proof-of-concept devices based on these combinations will be made. The resultant materials will be analyzed for both their physical and emissive properties. The goal is to have well characterized, stabilized light emitting particles ready for Phase II, in which the materials will be used to make optimized hybrid organic light emitting diodes. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The commercial application being pursued is more efficient lighting for the general illumination market. $100 billion worth of electricity could be saved each year, along with the 200 billion tons of carbon emissions from creating that electricity. Other advantages of the technology include mercury-free lamps and high color-tunability. Other market opportunities include flat panel displays, specialty lighting, biological sensors, quantum dot lasers, and novel floating gate memory structures.