Course title: Optoelectronics
Course no.: EEE 435
Contact hours: 03
Credit: 3.0
Shaharior Anik,
Lecturer. Dept. of EEE,GUB
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Display Devices
Two broad catagories:
1. Those that emit their own radiation (active devices)
2. Those that in some way modulate incident radiation to provide the display information
(passive devices)
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Luminescence
Luminescence is the general term used to describe the emission of radiation from a solid
when it is supplied with some of energy.
Types of luminescence by the method of excitation:
1. Photoluminescence: excitation arises from the absorption of photons
2. Cathodoluminescence: excitation is by bombardment with a beam of electrons
3. Electroluminescence: excitation results from the application of an electric field (which may
be ac or dc)
Whatever the form of energy input to the luminesceting material, the final stage in the process
is an electronic transition between two energy levels 𝐸1 and 𝐸2 (𝐸2 >𝐸1 ) with the emission of
radiation of wavelength λ where
ℎ𝑐
= 𝐸2 − 𝐸1
λ
Invariably 𝐸1 and 𝐸2 are part of two groups of energy levels, so that instead of a single emission
wavelength, a band of wavelength is usually observed.
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Fluorescence & Phosphorescene
When the excitation mechanism is switched off, we would expect the luminescence to persist for
a time equal to the lifetime of the transition between the two energy levels 𝐸1 and 𝐸2 , this
phenomenon is known as fluorescence.
However, the luminescence persists for much
longer than expected a phenomenon called
phosphorescence
Phosphorescence is often attributable to the
presence of metastable states (or very long
lifetime) with energies less than E2. Electrons can
fall into these states and remain trapped there
until thermal excitation releases them some time
later.
Materials exhibiting phosphorescence are known
as phosphors.
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Phosphor
Phosphor materials depend for their action on the presence within the material of impurity
ions called activators. These replace certain of the host ions in the crystal lattice. Unless
the charge on the activator ion is identical with that of the host ion it replaces, the charge
balance will be upset and few will be able to enter the lattice.
Improves solubility of the activator in these circumstances may result from the introduction
of further impurity atoms with different ionic charge. These are known as co-activators.
28-Feb-22 Sarjana Shabab, Lecturer. Dept. of EEE, RUET 5
Characteristic Luminescence
• Charcateristics luminescent materials: the excitation energy is usually transferred rapidly
(in a time very much less than 10−8 s) to the activator ion. The persistence of the
luminescence is then entirely due to the lifetime of the excited state level of the activator.
It should be noted that, whilst for atomic electric dipole transitions this is of the order of
10−8 s it can be much longer if such transitions are forbidden. Hence fluorescence cannot
be unambiguously associated with the charecteristics luminescence
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Non-characteristic Luminescence
• In non characteristic luminescent, both activators and co-activators are present. This
create acceptor and donor energy levels in the materials. Although in phosphors these
levels are usually referred to as hole and electron traps respectively.
• Energy absorption within the solid creates excess electron hole pairs and as the hole
trapping probability is usually much greater than the electron trapping probability most of
the excess holes become trapped. Any electron that then finds itself in the vicinity of a
trapped hole can recombine with it and generate luminescence.
• As the electrons migrate through the crystal however themselves are subject to trapping.
The electron traps could of course act as recombination centers where they are
appreciable numbers of free holes present. But the difference in trapping probability
prevents these instead an electron may remain in its trap for some time. Before
subsequently being released by thermal excitation. It may then go on to be retrapped or
to recombine with a trapped hole.
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Stokes Shift
• In characteristic luminescent materials, the activator ion itself absorbs the photon directly.
• The same energy levels are involved in absorption as in emission then the wavelengths
for absorption and emission would be identical.
In fact, it is found that the peak emission wavelength is invariably shifted towards the red
end of the spectrum compared to the peak of the absorption spectrum. This phenomenon is
known as Stoke’s shift.
Application: In fluorescent lamps, electrical discharge is passed through a mixture of argon
and mercury vapor. The emitted radiation has a blush color and an appreciable amount of
radiant energy is in the ultraviolet. If the walls of the discharge tube are coated with a
suitable luminescing material, the uv radiation may be converted to useful visible radiation,
thereby increasing the luminous efficiency of the lamp.
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Cathodoluminescence
• An optical phenomenon in which a beam of energetic electrons (say with energy greater
than 1keV) hits on a luminescent material such as phosphor, cause the emission of
photon which may have wavelengths of visible spectrum.
• For example, generation of light by electron beam scanning the phosphor coated inner
surface of the screen that uses cathode ray tube.
• Cathodoluminescence is the inverse of the photoelectric effect photoelectric effect, in
which electron emission is induced by irradiation with photons.
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Cathode ray tube
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Electroluminescence
• An optical phenomenon in which photons are generated by an electric current
caused by an externally applied bias.
• Four main types of device may be distinguished:
• 1. A.C. or D.C. depending on the type of the drive)
• 2. Powder or thin film( character of the active layer)
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AC Electroluminescent Device
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DC Electroluminescent Device
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