Highly Efficient Light-Emitting Diodes Based on Self-Assembled Colloidal Quantum Wells

Nanocrystal-based light-emitting diodes (Nc-LEDs) have immense potential for next-generation high-definition displays and lighting applications. They offer numerous advantages, such as low cost, high luminous efficiency, narrow emission, and long lifetime. However, the external quantum efficiency (EQE) of Nc-LEDs, typically employing isotropic nanocrystals, is limited by the out-coupling factor. Here efficient, bright, and long lifetime red Nc-LEDs based on anisotropic nanocrystals of colloidal quantum wells (CQWs) are demonstrated. Through modification of the substrate's surface properties and control of the interactions among CQWs, a self-assembled layer with an exceptionally high distribution of in-plane transitions dipole moment of 95%, resulting in an out-coupling factor of 37% is successfully spin-coated. The devices exhibit a remarkable peak EQE of 26.9%, accompanied by a maximum brightness of 55 754 cd m-2 and a long operational lifetime (T95@100 cd m-2) over 15 000 h. These achievements represent a significant advancement compared to previous studies on Nc-LEDs incorporating anisotropic nanocrystals. The work is expected to provide a general self-assembly strategy for enhancing the light extraction efficiency of Nc-LEDs based on anisotropic nanocrystals. Through modification of the substrate's surface properties and control of the interactions among colloidal quantum wells, self-assembled of the layer with an exceptionally high distribution of in-plane transitions dipole moment of 95% is successfully realized. Incorporation of the novel hole transfer layer PF8Cz effectively suppresses electron leakage, which leads to the high-performance light-emitting diodes with a peak external quantum efficiency of 26.9%.image

Automated summary

This study demonstrates efficient, bright, and long lifetime red Nc-LEDs based on anisotropic nanocrystals. By modifying the substrate's surface properties and controlling the interactions among nanocrystals, a self-assembled layer with a high distribution of in-plane transitions dipole moment of 95% is successfully achieved, resulting in an out-coupling factor of 37%.