Thermophotonics for ultra-high efficiency visible LEDs

Rajeev J. Ram

doi:10.1117/12.2251373

16 February 2017 Thermophotonics for ultra-high efficiency visible LEDs

Rajeev J. Ram

Proceedings Volume 10124, Light-Emitting Diodes: Materials, Devices, and Applications for Solid State Lighting XXI; 1012414 (2017) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2251373
Event: SPIE OPTO, 2017, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

The wall-plug efficiency of modern light-emitting diodes (LEDs) has far surpassed all other forms of lighting and is expected to improve further as the lifetime cost of a luminaire is today dominated by the cost of energy. The drive towards higher efficiency inevitably opens the question about the limits of future enhancement. Here, we investigate thermoelectric pumping as a means for improving efficiency in wide-bandgap GaN based LEDs. A forward biased diode can work as a heat pump, which pumps lattice heat into the electrons injected into the active region via the Peltier effect. We experimentally demonstrate a thermally enhanced 450 nm GaN LED, in which nearly fourfold light output power is achieved at 615 K (compared to 295 K room temperature operation), with virtually no reduction in the wall-plug efficiency at bias V < ℏω/q. This result suggests the possibility of removing bulky heat sinks in high power LED products. A review of recent high-efficiency GaN LEDs suggests that Peltier thermal pumping plays a more important role in a wide range of modern LED structures that previously thought – opening a path to even higher efficiencies and lower lifetime costs for future lighting.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

Rajeev J. Ram "Thermophotonics for ultra-high efficiency visible LEDs", Proc. SPIE 10124, Light-Emitting Diodes: Materials, Devices, and Applications for Solid State Lighting XXI, 1012414 (16 February 2017); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2251373

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