Highly efficient carbon-dot light-emitting diodes with delayed fluorescence

The overall purpose of the project is to develop light-emitting diodes (LEDs) based on thermally activated delayed fluorescent (TADF) carbon dots.

Specific project aims are: 1) to understand structure-property relationships of TADF carbon dots and reveal design principles for highly efficient TADF carbon dots; 2) to develop TADF carbon dots with high photoluminescence quantum yields and short decay lifetimes; 3) to fabricate TADF carbon-dot LEDs with efficiency far beyond the state-of-the-art.

We will use two unique and independent strategies to achieve TADF carbon dots desirable for LEDs, including surface modifications of carbon dots by using bulky amide ligands, and boron- and nitrogen-doping of carbon cores.

The structure-property relationships of the new TADF carbon dots will be systematically studied by combining a wide range of experimental techniques and theoretical modelling.

We will also apply the newly developed TADF carbon dots into LEDs and realize highly efficient TADF carbon-dot LEDs by addressing device-based issues.

The expected outcomes of this project are novel TADF carbon-dot materials, new insightful understanding of these emerging materials and high-efficiency TADF carbon-dot LEDs.

It is anticipated that the results generated through this project will significantly progress the area of carbon-dot LEDs by creating new knowledge and solutions for overcoming the electroluminescence efficiency limitations of carbon-dot LEDs.