Novel Inorganic DC Lateral Thin Film Electroluminescent Devices Composed of ZnO Nanorods and ZnS Phosphor

ABSTRACTA novel inorganic thin-film electroluminescence (TFEL) device exhibiting bright EL emission when driven by a low DC voltage is demonstrated. The DC-TFEL device is based on a composite layer in which aluminum-doped ZnO nanorods are vertically embedded in ZnS:Mn as an EL phosphor. The DC driving voltage is then applied laterally to the composite layer via two side electrodes set 3.5 mm apart. The aluminum-doped ZnO nanorods were synthesized on a glass substrate by low-pressure thermal chemical vapor deposition combined with laser ablation, and the composite layer was formed by electron-beam deposition of ZnS:Mn onto the ZnO nanorods. The thickness of the composite layer was about 160 nm. After electrical modification to breakdown a basal conduction ZnO path, the lateral DC-TFEL device exhibited bright EL emission without avalanche breakdown, achieving a luminance of 747 cd/m2 at 4200 V with a luminous efficiency of 9.2×10−3 lm/W.