Quantum dot light enhancement substrate

• US 8,759,850 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2013
• Issued: 06/24/2014
• 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: Coe-Sullivan, Seth, Kazlas, Peter T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Soward, Ida M
• Application Number:
  US13/849,700
• Publication Number:
  US 20140091275A1
• Time in Patent Office: 456 Days
• Field of Search: 257/89, 257/440, 257/E31.121, 257/E31.122, 257/E31.123, 257/E33.074, 257/E51.022
• US Class Current: 257/89
• 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 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 layer comprising a predetermined arrangement of features disposed over a predetermined region of a surface of the substrate, wherein at least a portion of the features comprise a color conversion material comprising quantum dots, and a conductive material disposed over at least a portion of the layer, the conductive material being transparent to light within a second predetermined range of wavelengths, and wherein the component further includes 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 the conductive material is disposed in a second predetermined arrangement, and wherein the size of the features comprising color conversion material are smaller than the size of the features of the second predetermined arrangement.

3. A component in accordance with claim 1 wherein the predetermined arrangement comprises a dithered arrangement.

4. A component in accordance with claim 1 wherein the predetermined arrangement includes features comprising color conversion material and features comprising material with a refractive index that is not the same as that of the color conversion material.

5. A component in accordance with claim 1 wherein the predetermined arrangement includes features comprising color conversion material and features comprising material with outcoupling capability.

6. A component in accordance with claim 1 wherein the predetermined arrangement includes features comprising color conversion material and features comprising material with outcoupling and non-scattering capability.

7. A component in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the features including color conversion material are optically isolated from other features including color conversion material.

8. A component in accordance with claim 7 wherein at least a portion of at least a portion of the features including color conversion material are optically isolated from other features including color conversion material by air.

9. A component in accordance with claim 7 wherein at least a portion of at least a portion of the features including color conversion material are optically isolated from other features including color conversion material by a lower or higher refractive index material.

10. A component in accordance with claim 1 wherein reflective material is included in spaces between at least a portion of the features including color conversion material.

11. A component in accordance with claim 1 wherein the predetermined arrangement comprises features including color conversion material, features comprising reflective material, and features comprising scatterers.

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

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

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

15. A component in accordance with claim 1 wherein a first portion of the features includes quantum dots capable of emitting blue light, a second portion of the features includes quantum dots capable of emitting green light, a third portion of the features includes quantum dots capable of emitting yellow light, and a fourth portion of the features includes quantum dots capable of emitting red light.

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

17. A component in accordance with claim 1 wherein a first portion of the features includes quantum dots capable of emitting red light, a second portion of the features includes quantum dots capable of emitting green light, and a third portion of the features includes quantum dots capable of emitting blue light.

18. A component in accordance with claim 1 wherein a first portion of the features includes optically transparent scatterers or non-scattering material, a second portion of the features includes quantum dots capable of emitting red light, and a third portion of the features includes quantum dots capable of emitting green light.

19. A component in accordance with claim 1 wherein a first portion of the features includes quantum dots capable of emitting blue light, and a second portion of the features includes quantum dots capable of emitting yellow light.

20. A component in accordance with claim 1 wherein a first portion of the features includes optically transparent scatterers or non-scattering material, and a second portion of the features includes quantum dots capable of emitting yellow light.

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

22. 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.

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

24. 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.

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

26. A component in accordance with claim 1 wherein a first portion of the features includes quantum dots capable of emitting red light, a second portion of the features includes quantum dots capable of emitting orange light, a third portion of the features includes quantum dots capable of emitting yellow light, a fourth portion of the features includes quantum dots capable of emitting green light, and a fifth portion of the features includes quantum dots capable of emitting blue light.

27. A component in accordance with claim 1 wherein a first portion of the features includes quantum dots capable of emitting red light, a second portion of the features includes quantum dots capable of emitting orange light, a third portion of the features includes quantum dots capable of emitting yellow light, a fourth portion of the features includes quantum dots capable of emitting green light, and a fifth portion of the features includes optically transparent scatterers or non-scattering material.