In situ n-doped nanocrystalline electron-injection-layer for general-lighting quantum-dot LEDs

Abstract Quantum-dot optoelectronics, pivotal for lighting, lasing and photovoltaics, rely on nanocrystalline oxide electron-injection layer. Here, we discover that the prevalent surface magnesium-modified zinc oxide electron-injection layer possesses poor n-type attributes, leading to the suboptima...

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Main Authors: Yizhen Zheng, Xing Lin, Jiongzhao Li, Jianan Chen, Wenhao Wu, Zixuan Song, Yuan Gao, Zhuang Hu, Huifeng Wang, Zikang Ye, Haiyan Qin, Xiaogang Peng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-04-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58471-5
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author Yizhen Zheng
Xing Lin
Jiongzhao Li
Jianan Chen
Wenhao Wu
Zixuan Song
Yuan Gao
Zhuang Hu
Huifeng Wang
Zikang Ye
Haiyan Qin
Xiaogang Peng
author_facet Yizhen Zheng
Xing Lin
Jiongzhao Li
Jianan Chen
Wenhao Wu
Zixuan Song
Yuan Gao
Zhuang Hu
Huifeng Wang
Zikang Ye
Haiyan Qin
Xiaogang Peng
author_sort Yizhen Zheng
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Quantum-dot optoelectronics, pivotal for lighting, lasing and photovoltaics, rely on nanocrystalline oxide electron-injection layer. Here, we discover that the prevalent surface magnesium-modified zinc oxide electron-injection layer possesses poor n-type attributes, leading to the suboptimal and encapsulation-resin-sensitive performance of quantum-dot light-emitting diodes. A heavily n-doped nanocrystalline electron-injection layer—exhibiting ohmic transport with 1000 times higher electron conductivity and improved hole blockage—is developed via a simple reductive treatment. The resulting sub-bandgap-driven quantum-dot light-emitting diodes exhibit optimal efficiency and extraordinarily-high brightness, surpassing current benchmarks by at least 2.6-fold, and reaching levels suitable for quantum-dot laser diodes with only modest bias. This breakthrough further empowers white-lighting quantum-dot light-emitting diodes to exceed the 2035 U.S. Department of Energy’s targets for general lighting, which currently accounts for ~15% of global electricity consumption. Our work opens a door for understanding and optimizing carrier transport in nanocrystalline semiconductors shared by various types of solution-processed optoelectronic devices.
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spelling doaj-art-5bbbdeb3749443fc80ebd70e23634aa12025-08-20T02:17:01ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-04-0116111210.1038/s41467-025-58471-5In situ n-doped nanocrystalline electron-injection-layer for general-lighting quantum-dot LEDsYizhen Zheng0Xing Lin1Jiongzhao Li2Jianan Chen3Wenhao Wu4Zixuan Song5Yuan Gao6Zhuang Hu7Huifeng Wang8Zikang Ye9Haiyan Qin10Xiaogang Peng11Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Excited-State Energy Conversion and Energy Storage, and Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang UniversityZhejiang Key Laboratory of Excited-State Energy Conversion and Energy Storage, and College of Information Science and Electronic Engineering, Zhejiang UniversityZhejiang Key Laboratory of Excited-State Energy Conversion and Energy Storage, and Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang UniversityZhejiang Key Laboratory of Excited-State Energy Conversion and Energy Storage, and Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang UniversityZhejiang Key Laboratory of Excited-State Energy Conversion and Energy Storage, and Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang UniversityZhejiang Key Laboratory of Excited-State Energy Conversion and Energy Storage, and College of Information Science and Electronic Engineering, Zhejiang UniversityNajing Technology Corporation Ltd.Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Excited-State Energy Conversion and Energy Storage, and Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang UniversityZhejiang Key Laboratory of Excited-State Energy Conversion and Energy Storage, and Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang UniversityZhejiang Key Laboratory of Excited-State Energy Conversion and Energy Storage, and Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang UniversityZhejiang Key Laboratory of Excited-State Energy Conversion and Energy Storage, and Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang UniversityZhejiang Key Laboratory of Excited-State Energy Conversion and Energy Storage, and Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang UniversityAbstract Quantum-dot optoelectronics, pivotal for lighting, lasing and photovoltaics, rely on nanocrystalline oxide electron-injection layer. Here, we discover that the prevalent surface magnesium-modified zinc oxide electron-injection layer possesses poor n-type attributes, leading to the suboptimal and encapsulation-resin-sensitive performance of quantum-dot light-emitting diodes. A heavily n-doped nanocrystalline electron-injection layer—exhibiting ohmic transport with 1000 times higher electron conductivity and improved hole blockage—is developed via a simple reductive treatment. The resulting sub-bandgap-driven quantum-dot light-emitting diodes exhibit optimal efficiency and extraordinarily-high brightness, surpassing current benchmarks by at least 2.6-fold, and reaching levels suitable for quantum-dot laser diodes with only modest bias. This breakthrough further empowers white-lighting quantum-dot light-emitting diodes to exceed the 2035 U.S. Department of Energy’s targets for general lighting, which currently accounts for ~15% of global electricity consumption. Our work opens a door for understanding and optimizing carrier transport in nanocrystalline semiconductors shared by various types of solution-processed optoelectronic devices.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58471-5
spellingShingle Yizhen Zheng
Xing Lin
Jiongzhao Li
Jianan Chen
Wenhao Wu
Zixuan Song
Yuan Gao
Zhuang Hu
Huifeng Wang
Zikang Ye
Haiyan Qin
Xiaogang Peng
In situ n-doped nanocrystalline electron-injection-layer for general-lighting quantum-dot LEDs
Nature Communications
title In situ n-doped nanocrystalline electron-injection-layer for general-lighting quantum-dot LEDs
title_full In situ n-doped nanocrystalline electron-injection-layer for general-lighting quantum-dot LEDs
title_fullStr In situ n-doped nanocrystalline electron-injection-layer for general-lighting quantum-dot LEDs
title_full_unstemmed In situ n-doped nanocrystalline electron-injection-layer for general-lighting quantum-dot LEDs
title_short In situ n-doped nanocrystalline electron-injection-layer for general-lighting quantum-dot LEDs
title_sort in situ n doped nanocrystalline electron injection layer for general lighting quantum dot leds
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58471-5
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