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LED Materials

Probe light emission characteristics with cathodoluminescence

Use cathodoluminescence (CL) to image local defects and light emission characteristics of semiconductor materials on small length scales. It is a powerful contactless way of studying both bulk LED materials but also miniaturized LED devices for use in lighting, display technology, photonics, inspection/spectroscopy, and pathogen.

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What we can help you to achieve
  • Gain insight into the (optical) properties
  • Study the local geometry and internal material structure
  • Acquire quantitatively comparable data
  • Characterize LEDs from the deep UV to the infrared
Cathodoluminescence image of a microrod

In-depth characterization of Gallium Nitride (GaN)

Gallium Nitride (GaN) is a versatile widebandgap semiconductor material commonly employed in a wide variety of applications including LEDs for lighting and displays, laser diodes, and high-performance electronics. Cathodoluminescence imaging and spectroscopy is used extensively in the context of GaN materials and devices.

The energetic electron beam can efficiently excite the wide bandgap (3.4 eV) of GaN with subwavelength spatial resolution, and is used to image local defects such as dislocations and probe light emission characteristics on small length scales.

What can you achieve with cathodoluminescence?

The spectroscopic knowledge can be used for growth optimization, failure/defect analysis, and checking the (local) homogeneity in the optical response, for instance. This can be done for a range of different semiconductor materials including (Al,In)GaN, ZnO, Perovskites InP/GaAs,  that emit light from the deep UV to the infrared spectral range.

Hyperspectral false color RGB cathodoluminescence image of InGaN microrod LED structure SE image of InGaN microrod LED structure
Image slider showing a hyperspectral false color RGB CL and corresponding SE image. The image shows the top of an InGaN microrod LED structure. Sample courtesy of J. Dühn and C. Tessarek (University of Bremen, MPI Erlangen). Also see J. Dühn et al. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 51, 355102 (2018).

Use the right products to get the right results

Delmic CL solutions offers a range of powerful and user-friendly cathodoluminescence detectors, which can help you learn more about both bulk and nanostructured materials.

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Delmic applications specialist Sangeetha Hari