Tunable Nanocrystal-Based Phosphors With Reduced Spectral Widths

Lead Performer: Lumisyn, LLC – Rochester, NY
DOE Total Funding: $999,999
Project Term:  April 10, 2017 – April 9, 2019
Funding Type: SBIR

Colloidal nanocrystals have been promoted as a viable alternative for warm-white LED light sources that employ spectrally wide red-emitting bulk phosphors. However, these nanocrystals continue to exhibit unwanted quenching of the quantum efficiency and increases in their spectral width at the elevated temperatures and excitation levels characteristic of high-power LEDs. Lumisyn has successfully created a novel class of high-efficiency, nontoxic nanocrystals that overcome many of the longstanding problems of other alternatives. Before successfully commercializing these materials, their efficiency must be further improved and their emission spectral width minimized. By targeted synthetic/compositional work in combination with appropriate optical and material characterization of the nanocrystals, Lumisyn will further refine a model of the factors contributing to high efficiency under both ambient and adverse (high-temperature and high-excitation-flux) LED operating conditions. Additionally, the company will identify compositional factors that lead to unwanted loss of nanocrystal efficiency, and will also explore synthetic and compositional changes to further reduce the spectral width of the orange- and red-emitting nanocrystals.

Targeted improvements include reduction of the spectral width by ~20% and improvement in overall LED efficacy by up to a factor of 1.4, while simultaneously improving color quality. These improvements will reduce general-lighting life-cycle costs, improve lighting quality, and reduce carbon footprint.

DOE Technology Manager: James Brodrick, [email protected]
Lead Performer: Keith Kahen, Lumisyn, LLC