Scientists create revolutionary LED with insulating nanoparticles and unprecedented efficiency

Researchers from Cavendish Laboratory, from the University of Cambridge, achieved a historic feat in the field of optoelectronics. In a study published in the journal Naturethe team demonstrated an innovative method for conducting electricity through materials that, by nature, block this passage.

The result is the creation of a system of LED nanoparticles highly efficient, capable of emit pure infrared light and which can transform the development of medical and imaging technologies.

The advance challenges basic concepts of materials physics by using rare earth elements to generate luminescence under electric current, something considered unfeasible until now due to the insulating properties of these components.

The discovery paves the way for a new class of hybrid devices that combine the robustness of inorganic materials with the versatility of organic compounds.

The challenge of insulating materials

Traditional LEDs, found in everything from your PC screen to home lighting, rely on semiconductors that allow electrons to flow.

However, there is a class of materials called insulating lanthanide nanoparticles (LnNPs) which, although they glow brightly when stimulated by external light (photoluminescence), function as barriers to electricity.

According to scientists, the main obstacle to using LnNPs in electronics was the inability to inject electrical charges directly into them without the use of extreme voltages or excessive heat.

This limited the use of these particles to passive applications, such as bioimaging, where the energy source needed to be external.

The solution: hybridization and energy transfer

To overcome this physical limitation, the team developed a hybrid architecture. They coated the insulating nanoparticles with a layer of organic molecules (a dye known as 9-ACA). This layer acts as a conductive bridge, allowing what researchers call “triplet energy transfer.”

The process works as follows:

1. Electricity is injected into the organic layer, creating energetic states called excitons.
2. These excitons transfer their energy directly to the lanthanide ions no interior gives nanoparticle.
3. Os ions are activated and emit light, bypassing the need to pass electrical current directly through the insulating core.

The technique allowed the devices to operate at low voltages, compatible with common electronic circuits, while maintaining the stability and color purity typical of lanthanides.

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Healthcare applications and the future of hardware

The light emitted by these new LEDs is located in the near infrared (NIR) range. Unlike visible light, the NIR spectrum penetrates biological tissues better, making this technology promising for medical diagnostic equipment and non-invasive health monitoring sensors.

Testing has shown that these LEDs surpass the efficiency and color accuracy of most current organic NIR emitters.

Although the initial focus is on the biomedical area, the scalability of the method suggests that it can be adapted to other types of insulators and applications in hardware.

The research indicates that the integration between organic and inorganic materials should accelerate the evolution of optoelectronic components, allowing more complex and efficient devices in the futureo.

For technology enthusiasts, the study highlights how the manipulation of materials at the nanoscale continues to break down physical barriers, bringing unprecedented functionality to the electronic components we use on a daily basis.

Fonte(s): Nature