Optical materials, optical components, and methods

• US 9,133,388 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2011
• Issued: 09/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: QD Vision, Inc. (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Modi, Rohit, Landreman, Patrick, Linton, John R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Thinh T
• Application Number:
  US13/283,382
• Publication Number:
  US 20120187367A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,419 Days
• Field of Search: 257/13, 257/431, 257/432, 257/E33.008, 438/786, 438/787, 438/48, 438/54, 438/65, 438/69
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 10/00 Nanotechnology for information processing, storage or transmission, e.g. quantum computing or single electron logic
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 20/00 Nanooptics, e.g. quantum optics or photonic crystals
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 40/00 Manufacture or treatment of nanostructures
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 11/02 Use of particular materials as binders, particle coatings or suspension media therefor
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 11/883 with zinc or cadmium
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/206 comprising particles embedded in a solid matrix
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/207 comprising semiconducting materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/005 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/06 within the light emitting region, e.g. quantum confinement structure or tunnel barrier
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/105 with a resonant cavity structure
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/20 with a particular shape, e.g. curved or truncated substrate
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/22 Roughened surfaces, e.g. at the interface between epitaxial layers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/774 Exhibiting three-dimensional carrier confinement, e.g. quantum dots
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/901 having step or means utilizing electromagnetic property, e.g. optical, x-ray, electron beamm
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/95 Electromagnetic energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1317 Multilayer [continuous layer]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/25 Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component and including a second component containing structurally defined particles

Abstract

An optical component including an optical material comprising quantum confined semiconductor nanoparticles, wherein at least a portion of the nanoparticles are in a charge neutral state. Further disclosed is an optical component including an optical material comprising quantum confined semiconductor nanoparticles, wherein at least a portion of the nanoparticles are in a charge neutral state, and wherein the optical material is at least partially encapsulated. Methods, optical materials, and devices are also disclosed.

Claims

1. An optical component including a photoluminescent optical material comprising quantum confined semiconductor nanoparticles, wherein at least a portion of the nanoparticles are in a charge neutral state, and wherein the optical material is at least partially encapsulated, wherein the charge neutral state is obtained by irradiating the at least partially encapsulated optical material with a light flux for a period of time sufficient to neutralize charge on at least a portion of the nanoparticles.

2. An optical component in accordance with claim 1 wherein substantially all of nanoparticles are in a charge neutral state.

3. An optical component in accordance with claim 1 wherein the optical material further comprises a host material in which the nanoparticles are dispersed.

4. An optical component in accordance with claim 1 wherein the optical component further includes a substrate having a surface on which the optical material is disposed.

5. An optical component in accordance with claim 1 wherein the optical material is at least partially encapsulated between opposing substrates.

6. An optical component in accordance with claim 1 wherein the optical material is fully encapsulated.

7. An optical component in accordance with claim 6 wherein the optical material is encapsulated between opposing substrates that are sealed together by an edge or perimeter seal, wherein each of the substrates and seal comprises a material that is substantially oxygen impervious.

8. An optical component in accordance with claim 6 wherein the optical material is encapsulated between opposing substrates are sealed together by an edge or perimeter seal, wherein each of the substrates and seal comprises a material that is substantially water impervious.

9. An optical component in accordance with claim 6 wherein the optical material is encapsulated between opposing substrates are sealed together by an edge or perimeter seal, wherein each of the substrates and seal comprises a material that is substantially oxygen and water impervious.

10. An optical component in accordance with claim 6 wherein the optical material is disposed on a substrate and the optical material is covered by a coating comprising a barrier material.

11. An optical component in accordance with claim 10 wherein the barrier material comprises a material that is substantially water impervious.

12. An optical component in accordance with claim 10 wherein the barrier material comprises a material that is substantially oxygen impervious.

13. An optical component in accordance with claim 2 wherein the host material comprises a polymer.

14. An optical component in accordance with claim 1 wherein the optical material further comprises light scatterers.

15. An optical component in accordance with claim 1 wherein the optical material has a photoluminescent efficiency at least 70%.