John F Foreman

US Patent:

20090212282, Aug 27, 2009

Filed:

Apr 13, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/918442

Inventors:

Jie Lui - Durham NC, US
Jianye Li - Evanston IL, US
Henry O. Everitt - Durham NC, US
Hongying Peng - Durham NC, US
John V. Foreman - Durham NC, US

Assignee:

DUKE UNIVERSITY - Durham NC

International Classification:

H01L 33/00
C09K 11/54
C09K 11/56

US Classification:

257 43, 2523016 R, 2523016 S, 977811, 977950, 257E33019

Abstract:

Luminescent nanostructures (e.g., nanowires) and devices are provided which are capable of emitting bright visible light. The luminescent nanowires are most preferably in the form of a doped ZnO having a spectrally integrated ratio of visible to UV light of at least about 1000 or greater. The dopant for the ZnO luminescent nanowires may be at least one of sulfur, selenium, oxygen, zinc, magnesium, aluminum, with sulfur being especially preferred. The doped ZnO luminescent nanowires may be provided in devices for emitting visible light whereby visible light is emitted by the doped ZnO luminescent nanowires in response to excitation by UV light provided by a UV light source. The device may preferably comprise a transparent or translucent lens covering the UV light source, wherein the doped ZnO luminescent nanowires are present as a coating on a surface of the lens. In some embodiments, the device will comprise multiple UV light sources. Devices of the present invention may be provided with a flat panel lens which is positioned adjacent the multiple UV light sources and has a coating of the doped ZnO luminescent nanowires thereon.