CCT- and CRI-tuning of white light-emitting diodes using three-dimensional non-close-packed colloidal photonic crystals with photonic stop-bands

Enhancement of Light Efficiency of Deep-Ultraviolet Light-Emitting Diodes by Encapsulation with a 3D Photonic Crystal Reflecting Layer

Recently, UVC LEDs, which emit deep ultraviolet light, have found extensive applications across various fields. This study demonstrates the design and implementation of thin films of three-dimensional photonic crystals (3D PhCs) as reflectors to enhance the light output power (LOP) of UVC LEDs. The 3D PhC reflectors were prepared using the self-assembly of silica nanospheres on a UVC LED lead frame substrate via the evaporation-induced method (side) and the gravitational sedimentation method (bottom), respectively. These PhCs with the (111) crystallographic plane were deposited on the side wall and bottom of the UVC LED lead frame, acting as functional materials to reflect UVC light. The LOP of UVC LEDs with 3D PhC reflectors at a driving current of 100 mA reached 19.6 mW. This represented a 30% enhancement compared to commercial UVC LEDs with Au-plated reflectors, due to the UVC light reflection by the photonic band gaps of 3D PhCs in the (111) crystallographic plane. Furthermore, after aging tests at 60 °C and 60% relative humidity for 1000 h, the relative LOP of UVC LEDs with 3D PhC reflectors decreased by 7%, which is better than that of commercial UVC LEDs. Thus, this study offers potential methods for enhancing the light output efficiency of commercial UVC light-emitting devices.

High-Efficiency Robust Free-Standing Composited Phosphor Films with 2D and 3D Nanostructures for High-Power Remote White LEDs

This study demonstrated that combined free-standing quasi-amorphous/micropattern (QA/MP) composited resin film-assisted phosphor films enhanced the mechanical robustness, luminous efficacy, color rendering index (CRI), and special R9 of high-power remote warm white light-emitting diodes (WLEDs). Introducing QA/MP nanostructures into phosphor film resulted in high efficiency of remote warm WLEDs with low phosphor thickness (approximately 25 μm) and reduced the correlated color temperature (CCT) from cold white light (approximately 5565 K) to warm white light (approximately 3178 K). The QA/MP composited phosphor films (CPFs) used for high-power remote WLEDs enhanced the CRI and special R9 and reduced the CCT. These results were attributed to that QA resin film reflected the blue light and re-emitted the added red emission. CIR (84), a natural warm white CCT (3178 K), and an acceptable luminous efficacy (102.5 lm/W) were achieved from the QA/MP CPFs of high-power remote WLEDs during operation at an input power of 10 W (current of 700 mA). The bending strength of QA/MP CPFs at approximately 112 N was significantly enhanced by 40% compared with that of flat CPFs. The QA/MP CPFs applied to high-power remote WLEDs exhibited good thermal and optical stability. QA/MP CPFs were also conducted to a reliability analysis (RA), in which temperature of 85 °C and relative humidity of 85% were applied for 3288 h. Lumen maintenance was degraded by 8% during RA test because the transmittance of trimethylolopropane ethoxylate triacrylate resins was degraded under high temperature. Overall, we implemented a reliable and inexpensive technology that can potentially reduce phosphor thickness, address the out-bin problems of defective WLEDs, and fabricate flat-panel lighting source with good lighting quality.

Using nanoimprint lithography to improve the light extraction efficiency and color rendering of dichromatic white light-emitting diodes

Despite the efficiency of gallium nitride (GaN)-based blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs), the light extraction arising from the packaging of the phosphor remains an important issue when enhancing the performance of dichromatic white LEDs. In this study, we employed a simple, inexpensive nanoimprinting process to increase both the light extraction efficiency and color rendering of dichromatic white LEDs. We employed the rigorous coupled wave approach (RCWA) to optimize the light extraction efficiency of yellow and blue light. We found that the presence of the light extracting structures could also improve the color rendering of the dichromatic white LEDs, due to the different light extraction efficiencies of the textured structures at different wavelengths. After fabricating inverted pyramid structures on the surface of the encapsulation layer, the intensity of the blue light at 455 nm increased by 20%. When we further considered the color rendering and correlated color temperature (CCT), the enhancement of blue light was 15% and that of yellow light was 4%. Meanwhile, the light extraction of the intensity dip near 490 nm was enhanced significantly (by 25%), resulting in an increased dip-intensity of light at 490 nm relative to the intensities of the blue and yellow light. Accordingly, the color rendering index (CRI) of this dichromatic white LED increased from 69 to 73. Because it improved both the light extraction efficiency and color rendering of dichromatic white LEDs, this simple method should be very helpful for enhancing their applications in solid state illumination.

Preparation of a colloidal photonic crystal containing CuO nanoparticles with tunable structural colors

Polystyrene colloidal photonic crystal structures containing copper oxide nanoparticles present tunable structural colors, which are highly useful properties for applications.

Light-spectrum modification of warm white-light-emitting diodes with 3D colloidal photonic crystals to approximate candlelight

This study presents the light-spectrum modification of warm white-light-emitting diodes (w-WLEDs) with 3D colloidal photonic crystals (3D CPhCs) to approximate candlelight. The study measures the angular-resolved transmission properties of the w-WLEDs with CPhCs, which exhibit photonic stop bands based on the CPhC photonic band structures. The w-WLEDs with 3D CPhCs produce a low correlated color temperature of 1963 K, a high color-rendering index of 85, and a luminous flux of 22.8 lm (four times that of a candle). This study presents the successful development of a novel low-cost technique to produce candlelight w-WLEDs for use as an indoor light source.