On November 28, 2024, reports from Japan revealed that researchers at Nagoya University have developed a method to make LEDs brighter while maintaining their efficiency. This breakthrough could reduce the production cost of LEDs and their environmental impact while improving their performance in applications like visible light communication and virtual reality (VR) glasses. The research findings were published in the article titled “How to Make Semi-Polar InGaN Light Emitting Diodes with High Internal Quantum Efficiency: The Importance of the Internal Field” in the Laser & Photonics Review journal.
Overcoming Efficiency Droop for Brighter LEDs
Indium Gallium Nitride (InGaN) LEDs are regarded as one of the most efficient light sources, but they typically operate at low power levels. To achieve higher brightness, additional power is needed. However, increasing the power to LEDs leads to a drop in efficiency, a phenomenon known as efficiency droop.
Innovative Approach to Improve LED Efficiency
One way to address efficiency droop is by increasing the size of the LED, thereby boosting light output. However, larger chips reduce the number of LEDs that can be produced from a single wafer, which increases production costs and environmental impact.
To solve this issue, researchers tilted the InGaN layers and cut the wafers in different orientations, modifying the polarization properties of the resulting crystals. This method effectively reduced efficiency droop. The researchers successfully manufactured LEDs with the (101̅3) orientation on an inexpensive sapphire substrate. These LEDs demonstrated improved efficiency at higher power levels.
Implications for the Future of LED Technology
This discovery offers innovative solutions for manufacturers working on next-generation LED technologies. For example, it can help in the development of more efficient and brighter Micro LED displays for use in mobile devices and large-screen televisions. The technique also has applications in high current density LEDs for automotive and industrial lighting and faster-switching LEDs for visible light communication and VR glasses.
Researchers suggest that further studies may not find a better wafer-cutting direction, especially when using sapphire substrates.
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