Tyndall Academic Members Peter Parbrook (professor in the School of Engineering) and Stefan Schulz (lecturer in the Department of Physics), have recently received €1m to undertake research on novel material structures for visible and ultraviolet light emitting devices from the Science Foundation Ireland Frontiers for the Future Award Programme.
This work aims to overcome the various challenges surrounding red LEDs and Ultra-Violet (UV) LEDs.
Schulz said: “Developing new device structure requires a detailed theoretical understanding of the physics involved in such novel materials. This project presents an exciting opportunity where theory and experiment can go hand in hand to design future devices with enhanced performance.”
Visible light emitting diodes (LEDs) have huge potential for micro-displays (such as for virtual reality headsets) if scaled small enough (into so-called micro-LEDs), but conventional red LEDs are difficult to shrink.
Ultraviolet (UV) LEDs can be used in sterilisation (to destroy bacteria like MRSA and viruses such as coronavirus in hospital environments). However, they need to be more efficient.
Extension of wavelength region
The research intends to find a solution to these challenges by adding boron to the active region of state of the art of visible and UV LEDs, which will allow extension of the wavelength region where high performance can be obtained by engineering the fundamental properties of the semiconductor material to suit the application. Here we combine fundamental theoretical analysis with experimental demonstration and testing of the concepts to enable beyond state-of-the-art device performance.
Prof Parbrook said: “We thank Science Foundation Ireland for the opportunity to research this exciting new material concept. The addition of boron to a semiconductor such as gallium nitride is exceptionally challenging and we are looking forward designing and engineering such new structures.”
Professor William Scanlon, Tyndall CEO, said: “I would like to congratulate Peter and Stefan on their success. Photonics and novel photonic devices enable a huge variety of technology solutions in the world today, and such work is vital to maintain the internationally leading role that Tyndall has in these areas.”