Recent Progress in Quantum Dot Based White Light-Emitting Devices

Colloidal semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) have been widely employed as components of white light-emitting diodes (WLEDs) due to their excellent optical properties (highly saturated emission color, high luminescence quantum yield) as well as thermal and chemical stability. Much effort has been devoted to realize efficient QD-based WLEDs, including the synthesis of superior luminescent nanomaterials with excellent stabilities, and the design of advanced devices structures. In this paper, after introducing photometric parameters of the contemporary QD-based WLEDs, we highlight the recent progress in these devices grouped according to three main mechanisms for white light generation: optical excitation, direct charge carrier injection, and Forster resonance energy transfer. The methods to generate white light, the design of QD emitters and QD-based devices, as well as their fabrication techniques are considered, and the key scientific and technological challenges in the QD-based WLEDs are highlighted. Novel light-emitting materials for WLEDs such as carbon-based nanoparticles are also considered.