Sep 13 2007
Research by the Advanced Institute of Technology Photonics group scientists on new approaches to displays and lighting technology were recently awarded the best poster prizes at the European Materials Research Society (EMRS), Strasbourg and the International Conference on Optical, Optoelectronic and Photonic Materials and Applications (ICOOPMA), London.
At EMRS, Strasbourg, work presented by EPSRC sponsored PhD student James Chamings on GaPN LEDs received the best poster prize in Symposium F on III-N-V compounds. James' winning poster was entitled ‘Temperature and Pressure Dependent Properties of GaPN Light Emitting Diodes.’ GaPN is an important material system for the low cost production of green-amber LEDs for numerous display and illumination applications. James' work has made an important contribution to understanding the properties of this material system to help optimise the output efficiency of visible LEDs. This work was carried out in collaboration with UC San Diego as part of a recent SETsquared initiative to southern California.
At ICOOPMA, London, EPSRC sponsored PhD student Lisa Ahmed's paper ‘Phosphor-free White Light Emitting Diodes’ won the best paper prize taken from a total of ~100 posters from leading international groups working in all aspects of photonics. Lisa's paper described how the incorporation of thin tunnel barriers in GaN homojunction LEDs could be used to generate white emission without the need for expensive phosphors. This is one potential route to monolithic white LEDs as replacements for conventional lighting.
Commenting on these successes, Dr. Stephen Sweeney, the supervisor of both James' and Lisa's projects said, "I am delighted to see our work being recognised at these important international conferences. These are particularly promising research topics which have a significant impact both on quality of life and in helping to reduce demands on energy. These are excellent examples of how the unique photonics and high pressure characterisation facilities in the ATI have enabled us to work with other world-leading groups in many aspects of photonics technology."