Nanoplasmon-enhanced transparent plasma display devices

Triboelectric microplasma powered by mechanical stimuli

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) naturally have the capability of high voltage output to breakdown gas easily. Here we present a concept of triboelectric microplasma by integrating TENGs with the plasma source so that atmospheric-pressure plasma can be powered only by mechanical stimuli. Four classical atmospheric-pressure microplasma sources are successfully demonstrated, including dielectric barrier discharge (DBD), atmospheric-pressure non-equilibrium plasma jets (APNP-J), corona discharge, and microspark discharge. For these types of microplasma, analysis of electric characteristics, optical emission spectra, COMSOL simulation and equivalent circuit model are carried out to explain transient process of different discharge. The triboelectric microplasma has been applied to patterned luminescence and surface treatment successfully as a first-step evaluation as well as to prove the system feasibility. This work offers a promising, facile, portable and safe supplement to traditional plasma sources, and will enrich the diversity of plasma applications based on the reach of existing technologies.

Effect of gold nanorods in an MgO protective layer of AC plasma display panels

We propose a modified MgO protective layer for alternating current plasma display panels. The modified MgO protective layer of the panel tested here has a structure that incorporates silica-coated Au nanorods (NRs), leading to localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) in the near-infrared (IR) region. The silica-coated Au NRs were synthesized by a simple chemical method and inserted into an MgO protective layer using an air-spray method. The operating voltage of the proposed structure was decreased by 10 V. The luminance and luminous efficacy of the test panel part with the silica-coated Au NRs both increased by about 15%. According to the measured results of the IR response time, the sustain discharge time lag was reduced. In addition, by inserting the silica-coated Au NRs into the MgO protective layer, a decrease of the IR emission proceeding from the plasma discharge was acquired. Finally, we investigated the LSPR effect of the silica-coated Au NRs in a simulation with a finite-difference time domain method.

Photoinduced reversible shape conversion of silver nanoparticles assisted by TiO₂

Silver nanoprisms were transformed into nanodecahedra through photoinduction of ultraviolet (UV) light in the presence of titanium dioxide (TiO2) quantum dots (QDs). Subsequently, the silver nanodecahedra were reconverted to silver nanoprisms under sodium lamp if there was sufficient citrate in the reaction system. The localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) optical properties of silver nanoparticles were tuned during photoinduced shape conversion. The photocatalytic activity of TiO2 QDs assisted the conversion of prisms to decahedra upon UV light irradiation. Nevertheless, the presence of TiO2 did not inhibit the photoinduced reconversion from decahedra to prisms by sodium light. It was demonstrated that citrate was indispensable in the photoinduction process. In addition, oxygen in solution played a vital role in the reversible shape conversion of silver nanoparticles. Moreover, simulated sunlight can convert silver nanoprisms to nanodecahedra instead of UV light with assistance of TiO2 QDs, which would promote the photoinduced reaction of silver nanoparticles based on a natural light source.

Actively transparent display with enhanced legibility based on an organic light-emitting diode and a cholesteric liquid crystal blind panel

Transparent display is one of the most promising concepts among the next generation information display devices. Nevertheless, conventional transparent displays have two inherent problems: low forward light efficiency due to the light being emitted also in a backward direction; and low legibility due to the visual interruption caused by the light coming from the background. In this work, a cholesteric liquid crystal (Ch-LC) based, actively operational blind panel is combined with transparent organic light-emitting diodes (TR-OLEDs) to recycle the light wasted by backward propagation in transparent displays while blocking the light from behind the display, pursuing both improved forward light efficiency and enhanced image legibility. By tuning the reflectance spectrum of the Ch-LC panel to match the emission spectrum of TR-OLEDs, we achieved luminous efficiency increase by as large as 21% (85%) when the top metal cathode side (the bottom ITO side) of the OLEDs fa'transparent OLED' ces the blind panel. Maximum transmittance of the proposed device reached a high value of 60%, successfully demonstrating a new window-like transparent display concept.

Distance-dependent plasmonic enhancement via radiative transitions of europium complex

We elucidated the distance-dependent plasmonic effects on radiative transitions from an Eu(3+) ion-doped phosphor by varying the thickness of the dielectric spacer. Magnesium oxide prepared by electron-beam evaporation was chosen for the dielectric spacer. Spectral overlap between emission from Eu(3+) ions and the plasmon band of Ag nanoparticles led to improved luminescence intensity. This luminous enhancement was effective within the area of influence by localized surface plasmon resonance. At a long distance, the plasmon-enhanced luminescence was not effective. In addition, the numerical analysis results were in good agreement with the distance-dependent decay characteristics of plasmon resonance.