Ultraviolet-light-emitting AlN:Gd thin-film electroluminescence device using an energy transfer from Gd{sup 3+} ions to N{sub 2} molecules

Journal Article · Wed Apr 15 00:00:00 EDT 2009 · Journal of Applied Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3116222· OSTI ID:21356122

Toyama, Toshihiko; Ota, Jun; Adachi, Daisuke; Niioka, Yasumasa; Lee, Dong-Hun; Okamoto, Hiroaki ^[1]

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1. Department of Systems Innovation, Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-8531 (Japan)

An ultraviolet (UV)-light-emitting AlN:Gd thin-film electroluminescence device (TFELD) was demonstrated for application to flat-panel lighting. AlN:Gd thin films were deposited by rf magnetron sputtering at 200 deg. C and applied to an ac-voltage-driven TFELD with a double-insulating structure as an emission layer. UV-light emission was observed over a threshold voltage of 270 V for a 5 kHz sinusoidal ac voltage. Electroluminescence (EL) spectra were compared with photoluminescence and cathodoluminescence spectra of AlN:Gd originating from Gd{sup 3+} {sup 6}P{sub j}->{sup 8}S{sub 7/2} transitions and with an emission spectrum of the second positive system (C{sup 3}PI{sub u}->B{sup 3}PI{sub g}) of N{sub 2} molecules. As a result, an energy transfer from Gd{sup 3+} {sup 6}P{sub j}->{sup 8}S{sub 7/2} to N{sub 2}C{sup 3}PI{sub u}->B{sup 3}PI{sub g} is discussed as a likely mechanism for the UV EL. Finally, a preliminary result, associated with the conversion from UV light into blue-green light via a phosphor, is demonstrated for the color tunability of the TFELD.

• OSTI ID: 21356122
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 105, Issue 8; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.3116222; (c) 2009 American Institute of Physics; ISSN 0021-8979
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ALUMINIUM NITRIDES
CATHODOLUMINESCENCE
DEPOSITION
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
ELECTROLUMINESCENCE
EMISSION SPECTRA
ENERGY TRANSFER
GADOLINIUM
GADOLINIUM IONS
LAYERS
LIGHT EMITTING DIODES
PHOSPHORS
PHOTOLUMINESCENCE
SEMICONDUCTOR MATERIALS
SPUTTERING
THIN FILMS
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
VISIBLE RADIATION
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
CHARGED PARTICLES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTS
EMISSION
FILMS
IONS
LUMINESCENCE
MATERIALS
METALS
NITRIDES
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOTON EMISSION
PNICTIDES
RADIATIONS
RARE EARTHS
SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES
SEMICONDUCTOR DIODES
SPECTRA