Ultrabright Quantum Dot Light Emitting Devices (QLEDs) for Photomedicine

Abstract

The University of Central Florida invention comprises tunable, flexible QLEDs and methods for configuring the devices for use in phototherapy and photobiomedicine as well as lighting displays and sensors. For example, the invention could be used to produce ultrabright, flexible QLEDs for low-cost, wearable, disposable, light-emitting bandages to treat oral cancer or diabetic wounds.

The UCF QLED device includes quantum dots (QDs) as emitters and a mixture of metal oxide nanoparticles and alkali metal compounds for simultaneous electron injection and hole blocking to achieve charging balance at high driving current conditions. It surpasses state-of-the-art OLED technology in peak luminance and electroluminescence efficiencies at high current densities. With the additional benefits of solution processability, record low power consumption, and structural compatibility with n-type transistor backplanes, the QLEDs offer great potential for photomedicine applications as well as next-generation display, lighting and optical sensors.

Technical Details: The inventive methods comprise depositing a layer of quantum dots (QD) to function as emitters and a layer comprising a mixture of metal oxide nanoparticles and alkali metal compounds to provide in its entirety. In various embodiments, the QLED light source includes a mixture layer of electron-injecting ZnO and a hole blocking Cs₂CO₃. Pure color red QLEDs of the invention, in rigid or flexible form factors, can be used to positively change phototherapy applications in dermatology, oncology, minimally invasive surgery, stroke, and brain disease, among other fields.

High driving current conditions can achieve brightness levels of more than l00,000 cd/m². In one embodiment, UCF researchers achieved flexible QLEDs with a peak external quantum efficiency of 8.2 percent and a luminance of more than 20,000 cd/m² at a low driving voltage of 6 V.

Partnering Opportunity: The research team is seeking partners for licensing, research collaboration, or both.

Stage of Development: Prototype available.

Benefit

Market Application

Publications

20.2: Ultra-Bright, Highly Efficient, Low Roll-Off Inverted Quantum-Dot Light Emitting Devices (QLEDs), SID Symposium Digest of Technical Papers, 46, DOI: 10.1002/sdtp.10462.