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Improving the efficiency of micro-LEDs at high current densities employing a micro-current spreading layer-confined structure

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Abstract

In this paper, a micro-current spreading layer (mCSL)-confined micro-LED is proposed and fabricated. The mCSL is used to restrict the current channel in the 300 μm mesa of the micro-LED. Simulation results show that the internal quantum efficiency (IQE) of the mCSL-confined micro-LED is lower at low current densities, while it is higher at high current densities, compared with conventional micro-LED without mCSL. The current density distribution and the recombination rate are analyzed to prove the better restriction of the current channel at higher current density, resulting in enhanced efficiency at higher current density. With the decrease of the size of the mCSL, the efficiency of the mCSL-confined micro-LED decreases at low current densities, but increases at high current densities. This work provides a theoretical foundation for the structure design of LEDs in the future to optimize the efficiency of micro-LEDs in different applications such as display and communication.

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Data availability

Data underlying the results presented in this paper are not publicly available at this time, but may be obtained from the authors upon reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the National Key Research and Development Program of China (No. 2021YFE0105300); National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (61974031); Fudan University-CIOMP Joint Fund (FC2020-001); Key Technologies R&D Program of Huzhou City Science and Technology Project (2020GG03); Natural Science Research of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions of China (20KJB510014); NJUPTSF (NY220078); Foundation of Jiangsu Provincial Double-Innovation Doctor Program (JSSCBS20210522).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Electric Light Sources, School of Information Science and Technology, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China

    Xiaoyan Liu, Zexing Yuan, Gufan Zhou, Pan Yin, Xinyi Shan, Xugao Cui & Pengfei Tian

  2. College of Integrated Circuit Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing, 210023, China

    Xiaoyan Liu, Langyi Tao & Jinghao Yu

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  1. Xiaoyan Liu
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Liu, X., Yuan, Z., Zhou, G. et al. Improving the efficiency of micro-LEDs at high current densities employing a micro-current spreading layer-confined structure. Appl. Phys. B 128, 121 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00340-022-07839-2

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