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III-nitride photonic-crystal light-emitting diodes with high extraction efficiency

Nature Photonics volume 3, pages 163–169 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

Light-emitting diodes are becoming an increasingly attractive alternative to conventional light sources due to their small size, high efficiency and long lifetime. Ongoing research is dedicated to improving their performance through the use of more efficient light-generating and light-extracting structures. Here, we demonstrate light-emitting diodes achieving high extraction efficiency by using photonic crystals. The structures are iii-nitride thin-film light-emitting diodes emitting at λ = 450 nm. The photonic-crystal layer provides superior optical mode control compared to conventional iii-nitride light-emitting diodes, efficiently coupling guided modes out of the light-emitting diode. Fabry–Perot and photonic-crystal induced modes are observed in the far-field radiation patterns and are matched to theoretical electromagnetic calculations. The optical mode control results in a high-performance light-emitting diode with an estimated unencapsulated light extraction of ∼73%, higher than any unencapsulated iii-nitride light-emitting diode measured to date.

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Figure 1: Light emission and extraction.
Figure 2: Device design.
Figure 3: Wavelength-resolved angular far-field patterns.
Figure 4: Normalized band structures.
Figure 5: θ–φ resolved experimental far-field patterns of photonic-crystal LEDs at a wavelength of 480 nm.
Figure 6: Performance of devices.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge support from several people, including M. Verschuuren of Philips Research, and T. Nguyen, K. Than and M. R. Krames of Philips Lumileds.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Advanced Laboratories, Philips Lumileds Lighting Co., 370 W. Trimble Road, San Jose, 95131, California, USA

    Jonathan J. Wierer Jr & Aurelien David

  2. Philips Research, Philips, High Tech Campus 4, Eindhoven, 5656, AA, The Netherlands

    Mischa M. Megens

Authors
  1. Jonathan J. Wierer Jr
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  2. Aurelien David
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  3. Mischa M. Megens
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Correspondence to Aurelien David.

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Wierer, J., David, A. & Megens, M. III-nitride photonic-crystal light-emitting diodes with high extraction efficiency. Nature Photon 3, 163–169 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2009.21

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