High Efficiency Nanocomposite White Light Phosphors

75963-Today, 23% of electricity production in the United States is consumed by lighting while current technologies, incandescent and fluorescent sources, operate at a mere 15% or less efficiency. The need exists for a novel solid-state lighting technology that provides high luminous efficiency and high color rendering at low cost. This project will develop an innovative down-converting system, based on engineered nanocomposite materials, that will dramatically improve the overall cost, performance, and efficiency of solid-state white light (SSWL). This is not merely a new phosphor, but rather a complete down-converting system with the potential for solid-state white light that exceeds the performance of the best traditional fluorescent and incandescent bulbs: color rendering greater than 80, color temperature of 4,000K, luminous efficiency greater than 200 lm/W and a cost less than $1/klm. Phase I will utilize engineered nanocomposite down-conversion layers for white light illumination and demonstrate a perfectly color-matched, non-scattering, index-matched, high quantum yield, thin-film phosphor layer technology. Specific tasks include: (1) fabricating optimum nanocomposite mixtures based on theoretical predictions; (2) demonstrating the effect of controlling the index of refraction and scattering in the phosphor layer; and (3) projecting performance improvements that will follow further materials optimization and device design in Phase II. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: High efficiency, high color rending, low power consumption, rugged, long lifetime solid state white lighting should have commercial applications in general illumination (residential, commercial, and industrial) and mobile platforms for signaling and lighting (automobile, aviation, marine, trains). Significant reductions in energy consumption, pollution, and cost should accrue to end users.