Emerging Solution-Processable Luminescent Nanomaterials in Hybrid Structures Offer New Solutions for Displays and Lighting

nanomaterials, including cadmium-based or cadmium-free colloidal quantum dots (QDs)1,2 and, most recently, metal-halide perovskites3, have emerged from academic labs to become promising luminescent component materials for optics and optoelectronics in the display and lighting industries. Working as independent players in either photoluminescence (PL) or electroluminescence (EL) mode, these materials could help two competing display technologies (LCDs and organic light-emitting diodes [OLEDs]) in achieving better color quality and higher efficiencies. A recent article published in this magazine by Wang and Sun,4 “Quantum-Dot and Quantum-Rod Displays – the Next Big Wave,” provided a comprehensive overview of this technology, covering both QD-enhanced LCD products in the market and active QD LED research in the lab. QDs and perovskites are often touted as disruptive material systems that could completely replace traditional phosphor-based LEDs for backlighting LCDs or organic material-based OLEDs. In the near future, however, these materials are more likely to complement than to replace traditional technologies for optimizing color and efficiency in display and lighting applications. This article will provide an overview of the technology status of solution-processable luminescent QDs and metal-halide perovskite nanomaterials, as well as a report on some of the most recent developments on both PL and EL fronts, and a vision of how these materials could work with traditional technologies in hybrid structures for display and lightings in the near future. Status Overview of Colloidal Quantum Dots and Perovskites: Merits and Challenges As outlined in Wang and Sun’s article4, the merits of QDs and perovskites include: • Precisely tunable emission wavelength through size and/or composition control of QDs and perovskites that can cover a wide range of wavelengths (Fig. 1) • Highly saturated colors (narrow emission bandwidth) • High luminescence efficiency • The ability to be easily solution-processed into large areas with thin, flexible form factors Emerging Solution-Processable Luminescent Nanomaterials in Hybrid Structures Offer New Solutions for Displays and Lighting