Quantum dot light enhancement substrate and lighting device including same

• US 8,405,063 B2
• Filed: 01/20/2010
• Issued: 03/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: QD Vision, Inc. (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kazlas, Peter T., Coe-Sullivan, Seth
• Primary Examiner(s): Soward, Ida M
• Application Number:
  US12/657,427
• Publication Number:
  US 20100283036A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,161 Days
• Field of Search: 257/9, 257/E29.071, 257/89, 257/440, 257/E27.142, 257/E31.121, 257/E31.122, 257/E31.123, 257/E51.022, 977/707, 977/712, 977/720, 977/723, 977773-777, 977/779
• US Class Current: 257/9
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/035218 the quantum structure being quantum dots
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/04 with a quantum effect structure or superlattice, e.g. tunnel junction
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/06 within the light emitting region, e.g. quantum confinement structure or tunnel barrier
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/42 Transparent materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/50 Wavelength conversion elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/507 the elements being in intimate contact with parts other than the semiconductor body or integrated with parts other than the semiconductor body
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/58 Optical field-shaping elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/60 Reflective elements
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 33/145 Arrangements of the electroluminescent material
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 2102/331 Nanoparticles used in non-emissive layers, e.g. in packaging layer
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/125 specially adapted for multicolour light emission, e.g. for emitting white light
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/17 Carrier injection layers
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/854 comprising scattering means
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/38 comprising colour filters or colour changing media [CCM]
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/877 comprising scattering means
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 71/00 Manufacture or treatment specially adapted for the organic devices covered by this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/774 Exhibiting three-dimensional carrier confinement, e.g. quantum dots

Abstract

A component including a substrate, at least one layer including a color conversion material including quantum dots disposed over the substrate, and a layer including a conductive material (e.g., indium-tin-oxide) disposed over the at least one layer. (Embodiments of such component are also referred to herein as a QD light-enhancement substrate (QD-LES).) In certain preferred embodiments, the substrate is transparent to light, for example, visible light, ultraviolet light, and/or infrared radiation. In certain embodiments, the substrate is flexible. In certain embodiments, the substrate includes an outcoupling element (e.g., a microlens array). A film including a color conversion material including quantum dots and a conductive material is also provided. In certain embodiments, a component includes a film described herein. Lighting devices are also provided. In certain embodiments, a lighting device includes a film described herein. In certain embodiments, a lighting device includes a component described herein.

Claims

1. A component comprising a substrate comprising a material that is transparent to light within a predetermined range of wavelengths, a layered arrangement including two or more layers disposed over a predetermined region of a surface of the substrate, wherein each of the layers comprises a color conversion material comprising quantum dots capable of emitting light having a predetermined wavelength that is distinct from that emitted by quantum dots included in one or more of the other layers, and conductive material disposed over at least a portion of the layered arrangement, the conductive material being transparent to light within a second predetermined range of wavelengths, and one or more outcoupling features disposed on a surface of the substrate opposite the color conversion material.

2. A component in accordance with claim 1 wherein each layer is capable of emitting light at a wavelength that is distinct from that of any of the other layers.

3. A component in accordance with claim 1 wherein layers are arranged in order of decreasing wavelength from the conductive material with the layer capable of emitting light at the highest wavelength being closest to the conductive material and the layer capable of emitting light at the lowest wavelength being farthest from the conductive material.

4. A component in accordance with claim 1 wherein the layered arrangement includes a first layer including quantum dots capable of emitting red light, a second layer including quantum dots capable of emitting orange light, a third layer including quantum dots capable of emitting yellow light, a fourth layer including quantum dots capable of emitting green light, and a fifth layer including quantum dots capable of emitting blue light.

5. A component in accordance with claim 1 wherein the layered arrangement includes a first layer including quantum dots capable of emitting red light, a second layer including quantum dots capable of emitting orange light, a third layer including quantum dots capable of emitting yellow light, a fourth layer including quantum dots capable of emitting green light, and a fifth layer including scatterers or non-scattering material to outcouple light.

6. A component in accordance with claim 1 wherein the layered arrangement includes a first layer including quantum dots capable of emitting blue light, a second layer including quantum dots capable of emitting green light, a third layer including quantum dots capable of emitting yellow light, and a fourth layer including quantum dots capable of emitting red light.

7. A component in accordance with claim 1 wherein the layered arrangement includes a first layer including optically transparent scatterers or non-scattering material, a second layer including quantum dots capable of emitting green light, a third layer including quantum dots capable of emitting yellow light, and a fourth layer including quantum dots capable of emitting red light.

8. A component in accordance with claim 1 wherein the layered arrangement includes a first layer including quantum dots capable of emitting red light, a second layer including quantum dots capable of emitting green light, and a third layer m including quantum dots capable of emitting blue light.

9. A component in accordance with claim 1 wherein the layered arrangement includes a first layer including quantum dots capable of emitting red light, a second layer including quantum dots capable of emitting green light, and a third layer including scatterers or non-scattering material to outcouple light.

10. A component in accordance with claim 1 wherein the layered arrangement includes a first layer including quantum dots capable of emitting blue light, and a second layer including quantum dots capable of emitting yellow light.

11. A component in accordance with claim 1 wherein the layered arrangement includes a first layer including quantum dots capable of emitting yellow light, and a second layer including scatterers or non-scattering material to outcouple light.

12. A lighting device including a component in accordance with claim 1, wherein the conductive material acts as an electrode of the device.

13. A component in accordance with claim 1 wherein the substrate comprises a waveguide.

14. A component in accordance with claim 1 wherein the substrate is flexible.

15. A component in accordance with claim 1 wherein the substrate is rigid.

16. A component in accordance with claim 1 wherein the component further includes a thin film interference filter between the substrate and color conversion material.

17. A component in accordance with claim 1 wherein the outcoupling features comprise a microlens.

18. A component in accordance with claim 1 wherein the outcoupling feature comprise a micro-relief structure.

19. A component in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the outcoupling features are configured to have predetermined outcoupling angles.

20. A component in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the outcoupling features include a substantially hemispherical surface.

21. A component in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the outcoupling features include a curved surface.

22. A component in accordance with claim 1 wherein the color conversion material further comprises a host material in which the quantum dots are dispersed.

23. A component in accordance with claim 1 wherein the color conversion material further comprises a binder in which the quantum dots are dispersed.

24. A component in accordance with claim 1 wherein the color conversion material has an index of refraction greater than or equal to the index of refraction of the conductive material.

25. A component in accordance with claim 22 wherein the host material is transparent to light in the predetermined range of wavelengths and light in the second predetermined range of wavelengths.

26. A component in accordance with claim 22 wherein the host material comprises an organic material.

27. A component in accordance with claim 22 wherein the host material comprises an inorganic material.

28. A component in accordance with claim 22 wherein the host material has an index of refraction greater than or equal to the index of refraction of the conductive material.

29. A component in accordance with claim 1 wherein the color conversion material further includes scatterers.

30. A component in accordance with claim 1 wherein light emitted from the surface of the component is substantially uniform across a predetermined region of the substrate surface.

31. A component in accordance with claim 1 a reflective material is included on the edges of the substrate.

32. A component in accordance with claim 1 a reflective material is included around at least a portion of the edges of the substrate.