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Emergence of colloidal quantum-dot light-emitting technologies

Nature Photonics volume 7, pages 13–23 (2013)Cite this article

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Abstract

Since their inception 18 years ago, electrically driven colloidal quantum-dot light-emitting devices (QD-LEDs) have increased in external quantum efficiency from less than 0.01% to around 18%. The high luminescence efficiency and uniquely size-tunable colour of solution-processable semiconducting colloidal QDs highlight the potential of QD-LEDs for use in energy-efficient, high-colour-quality thin-film display and solid-state lighting applications. Indeed, last year saw the first demonstrations of electrically driven full-colour QD-LED displays, which foreshadow QD technologies that will transcend the optically excited QD-enhanced lighting products already available today. We here discuss the key advantages of using QDs as luminophores in LEDs and outline the operating mechanisms of four types of QD-LED. State-of-the-art visible-wavelength LEDs and the promise of near-infrared and heavy-metal-free devices are also highlighted. As QD-LED efficiencies approach those of molecular organic LEDs, we identify the key scientific and technological challenges facing QD-LED commercialization and offer our outlook for on-going strategies to overcome these challenges.

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Figure 1: Tunable and pure colour light emission from colloidal QDs.
Figure 2: Optical advantages of colloidal QDs for display and SSL applications.
Figure 3: Progression of orange/red-emitting QD-LED performance over time in terms of peak EQE and peak brightness.
Figure 4: QD excitation mechanisms.
Figure 5: Type-II QD-LED.
Figure 6: State-of-the-art QD-LEDs and their use in large-area devices.

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Acknowledgements

This Review is based on work supported by the Center for Excitonics, an Energy Frontier Research Center funded by the US Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, under Award Number DE-SC0001088.

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Author notes

  1. Yasuhiro Shirasaki and Geoffrey J. Supran: These authors contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, 02139, Massachusetts, USA

    Yasuhiro Shirasaki & Vladimir Bulović

  2. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, 02139, Massachusetts, USA

    Geoffrey J. Supran

  3. Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, 02139, Massachusetts, USA

    Moungi G. Bawendi

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  1. Yasuhiro Shirasaki
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  4. Vladimir Bulović
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Correspondence to Vladimir Bulović.

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V.B. is a Founder of and Scientific Advisor for QD Vision, and M.G.B. is a Scientific Advisor for QD Vision.

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Shirasaki, Y., Supran, G., Bawendi, M. et al. Emergence of colloidal quantum-dot light-emitting technologies. Nature Photon 7, 13–23 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2012.328

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