• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2015.08a
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• pp.146-146
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• 2015

We report the enhanced performance of poly(N-vinylcarbozole) (PVK)/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS)-based quantum-dot light-emitting diodes by inserting the polyaniline:poly (p-styrenesulfonic acid) (PANI:PSS) interlayer. The QD-LED with PANI:PSS interlayer exhibited a higher luminance and luminous current efficiency than that without PANI:PSS. Ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy results exhibited different electronic energy alignments of QD-LEDs with/without the PANI:PSS interlayer. By inserting the PANI:PSS interlayer, the hole-injection barrier at the QD layer/PVK interface was reduced from 1.45 to 1.23 eV via the energy level down-shift of the PVK layer. The reduced barrier height alleviated the interface carrier charging responsible for the deterioration of the current and luminance efficiency. This suggests that the insertion of PANI:PSS interlayer in QD-LEDs contributed to (i) increase the p-type conductivity and (ii) reduce the hole barrier height of QDs/PVK, which are critical factors leading to improve the efficiency of QD-LEDs.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.455-461
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• 2023

We investigated the electrical characteristics of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) with air exposure that is a widely used electron transport layer for quantum dot light-emitting diodes (QLEDs). Upon air exposure, we observed changes in the density of states (DOS) of the trap levels of ZnO NPs. In particular, with air exposure, the concentration of deep trap energy levels in ZnO NPs decreased and electron mobility significantly improved. Consequently, the air-exposed ZnO reduced leakage current by approximately one order of magnitude and enhanced the external quantum efficiency at the low driving voltage region of the QLED. In addition, based on the excellent conductivity properties, high-brightness QLEDs could be achieved.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.391-402
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• 2023

Low-dimensional (zero-dimensional (0-dim), 2-dimensional (2-dim)) nanoparticles, such as chalcogenide compound semiconductors, III-V semiconductors, transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), II-VI semiconductors, nanocarbons, hybrid quantum dots (QDs), and perovskite QDs (PQDs), for which blue light emission has been observed, are reviewed. Current synthesis and device fabrication technologies as well as their prospective applications on next-generation quantum-dot-based light-emitting diodes are discussed.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.249-254
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• 2022

To achieve high-performance colloidal quantum dot light-emitting diodes (QD-LEDs), the use of a densely packed QD film is crucial to prevent the formation of leakage current pathways and increase in interface resistance. Spin coating is the most common method to deposit QDs; however, this method often produces pinholes that can act as short-circuit paths within devices. Since state-of-the-art QD-LEDs typically employ mono- or bi-layer QDs as an emissive layer because of their low conductivities, the use of a densely packed and pinhole-free QD film is essential. Herein, we introduce the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) technique as a deposition method for the fabricate densely packed QD films in QD-LEDs. The LB technique successfully transfers a highly dense monolayer of QDs onto the substrate, and multilayer deposition is performed by repeating the transfer process. To validate the comparability of the LB technique with the standard QD-LED fabrication process, we fabricate and compare the performance of LB-based QD-LEDs to that of the spin-coating-based device. Owing to the non-destructiveness of the LB technique, the electroluminescence efficiency of the LB-based QD-LEDs is similar to that of the standard spin coating-based device. Thus, the LB technique is promising for use in optoelectronic applications.

• Korean Journal of Optics and Photonics
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.163-171
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• 2021

Conventional white light-emitting diodes (LEDs) for lighting applications consist of blue LEDs and yellow phosphors, the spectrum of which lacks deep red. To improve the color-rendering characteristics of white LEDs, a red quantum-dot film was applied to the diffuser plate of LED lighting. The mean free paths of the quantum dots and the concentration of the TiO₂ particles in the diffuser plate were adjusted to optimize the optical structure of the lighting. The color-rendering index (CRI) was greater than 90 for most conditions, which demonstrates that adoption of the red quantum-dot film is an effective way for improving the color-rendering properties of conventional white LEDs. The angular dispersion of color coordinates could be removed by utilizing the optical cavity formed between the diffuser plate and the reflector on the bottom of the lighting, where multiple passages of the light through the quantum-dot film reduced the differences in optical path length depending on the viewing angle.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.93-97
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• 2022

We report highly efficient quantum dot light-emitting diodes (QLEDs) with TiO₂ nanoparticles (NPs) as an alternative electron transport layer (ETL) and poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) as an insulating layer. TiO₂ NPs were applied as ETLs of inverted structured QLEDs and the effect of the addition of PMMA between ETL and emission layer (EML) on device characteristics was studied in detail. A thin PMMA layer supported to make the charge balance in the EML of QLEDs due to its insulating property, which limits electron injection effectively. Green QLEDs with a PMMA layer produced the maximum luminance of 112,488 cd/m² and a current efficiency of 25.92 cd/A. We expect the extended application of TiO₂ NPs as the electron transport layer in inverted structured QLEDs device in the near future.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.140-144
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• 2012

Compared with bulk material, quantum dots have received increasing attention due to their fascinating physical properties, including optical and electronic properties, which are due to the quantum confinement effect. Especially, Luminescent CdSe quantum dots have been highly investigated due to their tunable size-dependent photoluminescence across the visible spectrum. They are of great interest for technical applications such as light-emitting devices, lasers, and fluorescent labels. In particular, quantum dot-based light-emitting diodes emit high luminance. Quantum dots have very high luminescence properties because of their absorption coefficient and quantum efficiency, which are higher than those of typical dyes. CdSe quantum dots were synthesized as a function of the synthesis time and synthesis temperature. The photoluminescence properties were found strongly to depend on the reaction time and the temperature due to the core size changing. It was also observed that the photoluminescence intensity is decreased with the synthesis time due to the temperature dependence of the band gap. The wavelength of the synthesized quantum dots was about 550-700 nm and the intensity of the photoluminescence increased about 22~70%. After the CdSe quantum dots were synthesized, the particles were found to have grown until reaching a saturated concentration as time increased. Red shift occurred because of the particle growth. The microstructure and phase developments were measured by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffractometry (XRD), respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.151-155
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• 2014

We have developed quantum dot light emitting diodes (QD-LEDs) using a InP/ZnSe/ZnS multi-shell QD emission layer. The hybrid structure of organic hole transport layer/QD/organic electron transport layer was used for fabricating QD-LEDs. Poly(4-butylphenyl-diphenyl-amine) (poly-TPD) and tris[2,4,6-trimethyl-3-(pyridin-3-yl)phenyl]borane (3TPYMB) molecules were used as hole-transporting and electron-transporting layers, respectively. The emission, current efficiency, and driving characteristics of QD-LEDs with 50, 65 nm thick 3TPYMB layers were investigated. The QD-LED with a 50 nm thick 3TPYMB layer exhibited a maximum current efficiency of 1.3 cd/A.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.69-72
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• 2020

In this study, the inverted structured electroluminescence (EL) devices were fabricated with double electron transport layers (ETLs). The conduction band minimum (CBM) of TiO₂ NPs is lower than SnO₂ NPs. Therefore, it is expected that inserting TiO₂ NPs between the SnO₂ layer and the emission layer (EML) will reduce the energy barrier and transport electrons smoothly. The quantum dot light emitting diodes (QLEDs) with double ETLs showed the enhanced emission characteristics than those with only SnO₂ layer.

• Journal of Adhesion and Interface
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.17-24
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• 2022

Colloidal quantum dots (QDs) have gained attention for applications in quantum dot light emitting diodes (QLEDs) due to their high photoluminescence quantum yield, narrow emission spectra, and tunable bandgap. Nevertheless, non-radiative recombination induced by electron and hole imbalance deteriorates the device efficiency and stability. To overcome the problem, researchers have been trying to enhance hole transport properties of hole transporting layers (HTL) and/or slow down the electron injection in electron transport layer (ETL). Here, we summarize two approaches: i) development of interfacial materials between QD and ETL (or HTL); ii) engineering of HTL by blending or multi-layer approaches.