Hybrid phosphor for wide-spectrum LEDs created by scientists from Moscow State University and the Lebedev Physical Institute

Researchers from the Chemistry Department of Moscow State University and the P.N. Lebedev Physical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences have developed a unique hybrid phosphor that combines organic and inorganic components. This compound demonstrates an unusually wide luminescence spectrum, including both visible light and the near-infrared range. The research results are published in the journal Dalton Transactions.

Image source Пресс-служба МГУ им. Ломоносова

Modern light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are not able to fully reproduce the solar spectrum. Most white LEDs create light by combining a narrow blue peak with a broad yellow emission, which creates a dip in the green region. This affects color rendering and can have a negative impact on vision with prolonged use, as the human eye has evolutionarily adapted to the full solar spectrum.

The new hybrid material solves this problem. As MSU graduate student Andrei Bykov explains:

Organo-inorganic hybrids, as a rule, have broadband luminescence with long lifetimes. They can become the basis for creating white LEDs, acting both as single-component yellow phosphors and as single-component emitters in electroluminescence-based LEDs. Modern white LEDs do not provide a full emission spectrum — there is a superposition of a narrow blue peak and a broad yellow one. And in the green range, there is no luminescence, and a dip becomes visible in the spectrum. This is a serious difference from natural sunlight. In addition, many yellow phosphors have low color rendering, which forces the combination of several phosphors in real devices, which increases the cost of such LEDs.

Andrei Bykov, first author of the article, graduate student at the Faculty of Chemistry, Moscow State University

In addition, the material emits in the near-IR range, which opens up opportunities for applications in medicine, for example, in diagnostic devices, as infrared light penetrates through tissues.

Another key advantage is the synthesis method:

Moreover, we managed to develop a very simple and inexpensive method for synthesizing such a crystalline structure. Very simple and easily scalable. We will be able to achieve the same efficiency in luminescence for much less money than for existing phosphors.

Andrei Shevelkov, head of the research, corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences

This means that the technology can be quickly implemented in production, reducing costs compared to existing analogues.

Potential areas of use for the new phosphor:

LED lighting – more natural and safer light for the eyes.
Medical diagnostics – near-IR radiation for tissue visualization.
Hyperspectral sensors – improved material analysis systems.

The work is just beginning, but the first results are very optimistic.

Andrei Shevelkov, head of the research, corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Luminescence is widely used in various fields. It is used in the production of LEDs, displays, lasers, as well as in the development of photodetectors and sensors. Its study is not only of practical importance, but also allows us to obtain valuable information about the electronic structure of solids.

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