Nitride-Based Microlight-Emitting Diodes Using AlN Thin-Film Electrodes with Nanoscale Indium/Tin Conducting Filaments

Kyung Rock Son, Tae Ho Lee, Byeong Ryong Lee, Hyun Sik Im, Tae Geun Kim

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Microlight-emitting diodes (µLEDs) are emerging solutions for both high-quality displays and lighting technologies. However, the overall light output power density of these devices is low, as the emission area is shielded by the p-electrodes required for current injection. In this study, instead of the more conventionally used indium tin oxide (ITO), an AlN thin film with nanoscale conducing filaments (CFs) is used, referred to as CF-AlN, as a transparent conducting electrode (TCE), to enhance the output power density from the same emission area. As a result of this modification, the electroluminescence intensity is enhanced by 10% at an injection current of 10 mA, and the current density is improved by 13% at a forward voltage of 4.9 V, in comparison to the parameters observed with ITO-based µLEDs. This improvement is attributed to the higher transmittance of CF-AlN TCEs, together with efficient hole injection from the p-electrode into the light-emitting layer, through the CFs formed in the AlN layer. In addition, using transmission electron microscopy analyses, the origin of the CFs is directly identified as the diffusion of In and Sn ions, which provides critical insight into the conduction mechanism of AlN-based TCEs.

Original languageEnglish
Article number1801032
JournalSmall
Volume14
Issue number49
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2018 Dec 6

Keywords

  • Schottky barrier height
  • fill factor
  • microlight-emitting diodes
  • nanoscale conducting filament
  • transparent conducting electrode

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biotechnology
  • Biomaterials
  • Chemistry(all)
  • Materials Science(all)

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