KR20100045597A - Light generating apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A light generating apparatus is provided to increase light efficiency in order to improve luminance using light emitting particles, which generate light, and auxiliary particles, which change the path of the light. CONSTITUTION: A first electrode layer(120) is formed on one side of a first substrate. A second electrode layer(220) is formed on one side of a second substrate which opposes to the first substrate. A carbon nano-tube unit(130) is formed on the first electrode layer. The carbon nano-tube layer emits electrons toward the second electrode layer. A plurality of light emitting particles is formed on the second electrode layer. The light emitting particles generate light by impacting with the electrons. A plurality of light emitting auxiliary particles is arranged around the light emitting particles and changes the path of the light.

Description

Light generating device {LIGHT GENERATING APPARATUS}

The present invention relates to a light generating device, and more particularly to a light generating device for generating light through the excited light emitting layer.

In general, there are various kinds of light generating devices for generating light, but recently, a light generating device for generating light using carbon nanotubes has been developed. This photo-generator includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes and a light emitting layer disposed between the first and second electrodes.

The principle of generating light by the light generating device will be briefly introduced. First, when a driving voltage is applied across the first and second electrodes, an electric field is formed between the first and second electrodes, and the electric field emits electrons through the ends of the carbon nanotubes. Let's do it. Electrons emitted from the carbon nanotubes collide with the light emitting layer by the electric field to excite the light emitting particles in the light emitting layer. The excited light emitting particles emit light having a wavelength equal to the energy band gap while returning to the ground state. As a result, the light generated in the light emitting layer is emitted to the outside through the front face of the light generating device.

However, the light generated from the light emitting particles proceeds not only toward the front of the light generating device but also up, down, left and right. Therefore, some of the light generated from the light emitting particles may be absorbed by adjacent light emitting particles or other materials, thereby reducing the brightness of the light generating device.

In addition, the driving voltage applied to both ends of the first and second electrodes should be increased to compensate for the decrease in the luminance of the light generating device. As such, when the driving voltage is increased, the carbon nanotubes or the light emitting layer may adversely affect the lifespan of the carbon nanotubes.

Accordingly, the present invention is to solve the problem that the brightness and life is reduced, the present invention is to provide a light generating device that can increase the brightness and life.

The light generating apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a first electrode layer, a second electrode layer, a carbon nanotube part, and a light emitting layer.

The first electrode layer is formed on one surface of the first substrate, and the second electrode layer is formed on one surface of the second substrate facing the first substrate. The carbon nanotube part is formed on the first electrode layer and emits electrons toward the second electrode layer. The emission layer is formed on the second electrode layer and includes a plurality of light emitting particles and a plurality of light emission auxiliary particles. The light emitting particles generate light by colliding with the electrons emitted from the carbon nanotube unit, and the light emitting auxiliary particles are dispersed and disposed around the light emitting particles to change the path of the light.

The emission auxiliary particles may have a diameter smaller than the wavelength of the light. Herein, when the light includes blue light, the emission auxiliary particles may have a diameter smaller than the wavelength of the blue light. On the other hand, the light emitting particles may have a diameter larger than the wavelength of the light.

The light emission auxiliary particles may include a light reflection material capable of reflecting the light, and the light reflection material may include at least one of aluminum (Al) and silver (Ag).

The carbon nanotube unit may include a nanotube base layer and carbon nanotube protrusions. The nanotube base layer is formed on the first electrode layer, and the carbon nanotube protrusions protrude from the nanotube base layer toward the second substrate to emit the electrons.

The photogenerator may further include a gate electrode disposed between the first and second electrodes adjacent to the carbon nanotube protrusions to induce the electrons to be emitted from the carbon nanotube protrusions. have.

A first driving voltage may be applied between the first and second electrode layers, and a second driving voltage may be applied between the first electrode layer and the gate electrode. In this case, the second driving voltage may be smaller than the first driving voltage.

The gate electrodes may be disposed on the nanotube base layer spaced apart from each other, and the carbon nanotube protrusions may be disposed on the same area between the gate electrodes.

In addition, the photo-generation device may further include a plurality of insulating supports interposed between the gate electrodes and the nanotube base layer to support the gate electrodes. Here, the height of the insulating support may be equal to or higher than the height of the carbon nanotube protrusions.

The light generating device may further include a plurality of light reflecting parts formed on the gate electrodes to reflect light generated in the light emitting layer toward the first substrate.

In addition, the photo-generation device may further include a spacer unit which couples the first and second substrates together to form a discharge space between the first and second substrates. In this case, the discharge space may be in a vacuum state or a non-vacuum state.

On the other hand, the light emitting layer may be disposed in contact with the upper surface of the carbon nanotube portion.

According to such a light generating device, electrons emitted from the carbon nanotube part collide with the light emitting particles of the light emitting layer to generate light, and the light generated by the light emitting auxiliary particles dispersed around the light emitting particles. The path of light is changed and emitted to the top of the light generating device. Therefore, the efficiency of the light generated from the light emitting particles may be increased to increase the brightness of the light generating device.

In addition, as the brightness of the light generating device is increased, the driving voltage required to emit electrons from the carbon nanotube part may be reduced, and as a result, the life of the light generating device may be further increased.

As the inventive concept allows for various changes and numerous embodiments, particular embodiments will be illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in the text.

However, this is not intended to limit the present invention to the specific disclosed form, it should be understood to include all modifications, equivalents, and substitutes included in the spirit and scope of the present invention. The terms first, second, etc. may be used to describe various elements, but the elements should not be limited by the terms. The terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another. For example, without departing from the scope of the present invention, the first component may be referred to as a second component, and similarly, the second component may also be referred to as a first component.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this application, the terms "comprise" or "having" are intended to indicate that there is a feature, number, step, action, component, part, or combination thereof described in the specification, and that one or more other features It should be understood that it does not exclude in advance the possibility of the presence or addition of numbers, steps, actions, components, parts or combinations thereof.

In the drawings, the thickness of each device or film (layer) and regions has been exaggerated for clarity of the invention, and each device may have a variety of additional devices not described herein. When (layer) is mentioned as being located on another film (layer) or substrate, an additional film (layer) may be formed directly on or between the other film (layer) or substrate.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<Example 1>

1 is a cross-sectional view showing a light generating device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the light generating apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a first substrate unit 100, a second substrate unit 200 facing the first substrate unit 200, and the first substrate unit 100. ) And the spacer portion 300 interposed between the second substrate portion 200.

The first substrate part 100 includes a first substrate 110, a first electrode layer 120, and a carbon nanotube part 130.

The first substrate 110 has, for example, a plate shape. The first substrate 110 preferably has insulation, and may be any one of a glass substrate, a quartz substrate, and a plastic substrate. Here, when the first substrate 110 is the plastic substrate, it may have a flexible (flexible) property.

The first electrode layer 120 is formed on one surface of the first substrate 110. The first electrode layer 120 may be made of a conductive material having a transparent property, but may also be made of an opaque metal material. Here, when the first electrode layer 120 has a transparent property, the light generating device may be used as a double-sided or a rear light emitting device by emitting light toward the first substrate unit 100. On the other hand, when the first electrode layer 120 has an opaque property, the light generating device emits light only toward the second substrate 200 so that it can be used only as a front light emitting device.

The carbon nanotube part 130 is formed on the first metal layer 120. The carbon nanotube unit 130 may include, for example, a nanotube base layer 132 and a plurality of carbon nanotube protrusions 134.

The nanotube base layer 132 is formed on the first metal layer 120. The carbon nanotube protrusions 134 protrude at a predetermined height from the nanotube base layer 132 toward the second substrate 200.

The nanotube base layer 132 serves as a base layer for growing the carbon nanotube protrusions 134. For example, the carbon nanotube protrusions 134 may be formed by growing from the surface of the nanotube base layer 132 in a state where a hydrocarbon is applied in a temperature range of about 600 degrees to about 900 degrees. The nanotube base layer 132 may be formed by depositing a catalytic transition metal necessary for growing the carbon nanotube protrusions 134.

The carbon nanotube protrusions 134 have a property of easily emitting electrons even in a low electric field. For example, the diameter of the carbon nanotube protrusions 134 may be in the range of about 1.0 nm to several tens of nm, and the critical turn-on-field for electron emission is about 1 V / um to about It may have a range of 5 V / um.

Meanwhile, first and second lower insulating layers (not shown) between the first substrate 110 and the first metal layer 120, and between the first metal layer 120 and the carbon nanotube part 130, respectively. ) May be further formed.

Subsequently, the second substrate part 200 includes a second substrate 210, a second electrode layer 220, and a light emitting layer 230.

The second substrate 210 is disposed to face the first substrate portion 100 while being spaced apart from each other. The second substrate 210 has, for example, a plate shape. The second substrate 210 preferably has insulation, and may be any one of a glass substrate, a quartz substrate, and a plastic substrate. Here, when the second substrate 210 is the plastic substrate, it may have a flexible property.

The second electrode layer 220 is formed on one surface of the second substrate 210 facing the first substrate unit 100. The second electrode layer 220 may be made of a conductive material having a transparent property. As a result, the light generating device may emit light upward through the second electrode layer 220.

The emission layer 230 is formed on the second electrode layer 220. The light emitting layer 230 is excited by collision with electrons emitted from the carbon nanotube protrusions 134, and the excited light emitting layer 230 returns to the ground state and has light having a wavelength equal to a specific energy band gap. Generates.

The emission layer 230 may generally generate white light, but may also generate tricolor light such as red light, green light, and blue light. That is, the light emitting layer 230 may include a red light emitting layer (not shown) for generating red light, a green light emitting layer (not shown) for generating green light, and a blue light emitting layer (not shown) for generating blue light. Here, the constituent material and the light emitting principle of the light emitting layer 230 will be described later using separate drawings.

Meanwhile, first and second upper insulating layers (not shown) are further disposed between the second substrate 210 and the second metal layer 220 and between the second metal layer 220 and the light emitting layer 230, respectively. Can be formed.

Subsequently, the spacer part 300 is disposed between the first and second substrate parts 100 and 200. The spacer part 300 may form a discharge space between the first and second substrate parts 100 and 200 while coupling the first and second substrate parts 100 and 200 to each other.

The spacer part 300 may be formed along edges between the first and second substrate parts 100 and 200 to completely seal the discharge space from the outside. Here, the discharge space is preferably in a vacuum state so that electrons are easily emitted from the carbon nanotube protrusions 134, but may have a certain air pressure.

Meanwhile, the process of generating light by the photo-generation device will be briefly described. First, a first driving voltage V1 is applied between the first electrode layer 120 and the second electrode layer 220. In this case, the first electrode layer 120 may serve as a cathode, that is, a cathode, and the second electrode layer 220 may serve as an anode, that is, as an anode.

When the first driving voltage V1 is applied between the first and second electrode layers 120 and 220, an electric field is formed between the first and second electrode layers 120 and 220, and the electric field thus formed. Silver emits electrons from the ends of the carbon nanotube protrusions 134 and leads to the light emitting layer 230. When the electrons emitted from the carbon nanotube protrusions 134 collide with the light emitting layer 230 due to the electric field, the light emitting layer 230 is excited, and the excited light emitting layer 230 returns to the ground state and emits light. Generates.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of portion 'A' of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 2, the light emitting layer 230 includes a plurality of light emitting particles 232 and a plurality of light emitting auxiliary particles 234.

The light emitting particles 232 are materials that generate light by energy in the recombination process of the electron and the electron, that is, the fluorescent material. For example, the light emitting particles 232 may be formed of an organic compound, and at this time, the color of light generated from the light emitting particles may vary according to the components of the organic compound.

The diameter of each of the light emitting particles 232 is preferably larger than the wavelength of the light generated from the light emitting particles 232, for example, may have a range of 10um ~ 100um.

The emission auxiliary particles 234 are disposed around the emission particles 232. The diameter of each of the emission auxiliary particles 234 may be smaller than the wavelength of light generated by the emission particles 232. Here, when the light includes blue light, each of the emission auxiliary particles 234 preferably has a diameter smaller than the wavelength of the blue light.

Meanwhile, each of the emission auxiliary particles 234 may include a light reflection material capable of reflecting the light. Here, the light reflecting material may include at least one of aluminum (Al) and silver (Ag).

3 is a view conceptually illustrating a process of changing the path of light in FIG.

Referring to FIG. 3, the principle of increasing the brightness of the light generating device will be described briefly.

First, the light emitting particles 232 are excited by collision with electrons emitted from the carbon nanotube protrusions 134, and as a result, light is emitted to the outside. At this time, the light generated from the light emitting particles 232 is emitted in all directions. Therefore, when the light generated from the light emitting particles 232 is divided into up, down, left, and right, the light emitting particles 232 generate the first to fourth lights L1, L2, L3, and L4. In this case, since only the first light L1 of the first to fourth lights L1, L2, L3, and L4 is emitted to the front of the light generating device, the remaining lights do not contribute to the brightness of the light generating device. Absorbed by the adjacent light emitting particles 232 or the like disappear.

However, according to the present embodiment, the light emission auxiliary particles 234 are distributed around the light emitting particles 232 to increase the brightness by changing a path of light that does not contribute to the brightness of the light generating device. You can. For example, the light emission auxiliary particles 234 scatter, reflect, and diffract the third light L3 or the fourth light L4 and change the reflected light RL to the front surface of the light generating device. Let's do it. As a result, the front luminance of the light generating apparatus is increased by the sum of the first light L1 and the reflected light RL.

As such, according to the present exemplary embodiment, the light path is changed by the light emission auxiliary particles 234 dispersed around the light emitting particles 232 and is emitted to the upper portion of the light generating device. The efficiency of the light generated at 232 may be increased to increase the brightness of the light generating device.

In addition, as the brightness of the light generating device is increased, the driving voltage required to emit electrons from the carbon nanotube unit 130 may be reduced, and as a result, the lifespan of the light generating device may be further increased. Can be.

<Example 2>

4 is a cross-sectional view showing a light generating device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Since the light generating device according to the present exemplary embodiment is substantially the same as the light generating device of the first embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 except for the insulating support 140 and the gate electrode 150, the insulating support 140 The detailed description of the other components except for the gate electrode 150) will be omitted, and the same reference numerals will be given to the same components as those of the first embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 4, the first substrate part 100 according to the present exemplary embodiment further includes a plurality of insulating support parts 140 and a plurality of gate electrodes 150.

The insulating support parts 140 are formed on the nanotube base layer 132, and are preferably spaced apart from each other by the same interval. As a result, the carbon nanotube protrusions 234 may be disposed in the same area between the insulating support parts 140, respectively.

The gate electrodes 150 are formed on the insulating supports 140, respectively. As a result, the gate electrodes 150 may also divide the carbon nanotube protrusions 234 into the same area. Here, the gate electrodes 150 serve to induce electrons to be easily emitted from the carbon nanotube protrusions 134.

The height of each of the insulating support parts 140 may be equal to or higher than the height of the carbon nanotube protrusions 134. In particular, each of the insulating support parts 140 preferably has a height substantially similar to that of the carbon nanotube protrusions 134. As such, when each of the insulating support parts 140 has a height substantially equal to the height of the carbon nanotube protrusions 134, the gate electrodes 150 may be larger than the carbon nanotube protrusions 234. It can be disposed adjacent, thereby inducing electrons to be released more easily from the carbon nanotube protrusions 134.

Meanwhile, a second driving voltage V2 may be applied between the first electrode layer 120 and the gate electrodes 150. As a result, an electron emission induced electric field is formed between the first electrode layer 120 and the gate electrodes 150, and the electron emission induced electric field emits electrons from the ends of the carbon nanotube protrusions 134. Can be. The second driving voltage V2 may have a lower voltage than the first driving voltage V1 applied between the first and second electrode layers 120 and 220.

As such, in the present embodiment, as the gate electrodes 150 disposed adjacent to the carbon nanotube protrusions 134 induce electron emission from the carbon nanotube protrusions 134, the gate electrode 150 is relatively low. Even at a driving voltage, electrons may be emitted from the carbon nanotube protrusions 134 more easily.

<Example 3>

5 is a cross-sectional view showing a light generating device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

Since the light generating apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment is substantially the same as the light generating apparatus of the second embodiment described with reference to FIG. 5 except for the light reflecting unit 160, other components except for the light reflecting unit 160 are provided. Detailed description thereof will be omitted, and the same reference numerals will be given to the same elements as those of the second embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 5, the first substrate part 100 according to the present exemplary embodiment further includes a plurality of light reflection parts 160 formed on the gate electrodes 150, respectively.

The light reflection parts 160 are formed on the gate electrodes 150 to reflect the light generated in the light emitting layer 130 and directed toward the first substrate part 100. The light reflection parts 160 may include a metal material capable of reflecting light, for example, aluminum (Al) or silver (Ag).

Meanwhile, instead of omitting the light reflection parts 160 in the present embodiment, the gate electrodes 150 may be made of a metal material capable of reflecting light.

As described above, according to the present exemplary embodiment, the light generating units 160 formed on the gate electrodes 150 reflect the light generated in the light emitting layer 130 and directed toward the first substrate unit 100. Accordingly, the luminance in the photo-generating device can be further increased.

<Example 4>

6 is a sectional view showing a light generating device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Since the light generating device according to the present embodiment is substantially the same as the light generating device of the first embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 except that the first and second substrate parts 100 and 200 are in contact with each other. Detailed descriptions of other components other than the first and second substrate parts 100 and 200 will be omitted, and the same reference numerals will be given to the same components as the first embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 6, the second substrate part 200 according to the present embodiment contacts the first substrate part 100. Specifically, the bottom surface of the light emitting layer 230 facing the first substrate portion 100 contacts the top surface of the carbon nanotube portion 130, that is, the top surface of the carbon nanotube protrusions 134.

Meanwhile, the lower surface of the light emitting layer 230 may not be in contact with the top surface of the carbon nanotube protrusions 134, but the light emitting layer 230 may be formed to cover the carbon nanotube protrusions 134. .

As such, according to the present exemplary embodiment, as the first and second substrate portions 100 and 200 are disposed in contact with each other, the space formed between the first and second substrate portions 100 and 200 may be minimized or Can be removed. As a result, the volume, ie thickness, of the photo-generation device can be further reduced. In the present exemplary embodiment, the first and second substrate parts 100 and 200 may be in contact with each other because the utilization efficiency of light may be increased by the light emission auxiliary particles 234.

In the detailed description of the present invention described above with reference to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, those skilled in the art or those skilled in the art having ordinary skill in the art will be described in the claims to be described later It will be understood that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope of the present invention.

1 is a cross-sectional view showing a light generating device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of portion 'A' of FIG. 1.

3 is a view conceptually illustrating a process of changing the path of light in FIG.

4 is a cross-sectional view showing a light generating device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a cross-sectional view showing a light generating device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a sectional view showing a light generating device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

<Short Description of Main Drawing Numbers>

100: first substrate portion 110: first substrate

120: first electrode layer 130: carbon nanotube portion

132: nanotube base layer 134: carbon nanotube protrusion

140: insulating support 150: gate electrode

160: light reflection portion 200: second substrate portion

210: second substrate 220: second electrode layer

230: light emitting layer 232: light emitting particles

234: light emitting auxiliary particles 300: spacer

Claims (17)

A first electrode layer formed on one surface of the first substrate; A second electrode layer formed on one surface of the second substrate facing the first substrate; A carbon nanotube part formed on the first electrode layer and emitting electrons toward the second electrode layer; And And a plurality of light emitting particles that are formed on the second electrode layer to generate light by collision with the electrons emitted from the carbon nanotube part, and are dispersed and disposed around the light emitting particles to change a path of the light. A light generating device comprising a light emitting layer having a plurality of light emitting auxiliary particles. The method of claim 1, wherein the emission auxiliary particles And a diameter smaller than the wavelength of the light. The method of claim 2, wherein the light comprises blue light, The light emission auxiliary particles have a diameter smaller than the wavelength of the blue light. The method of claim 1, wherein the emission auxiliary particles And a light reflecting material capable of reflecting the light. The method of claim 4, wherein the light reflecting material Light generating device comprising at least one of aluminum (Al) and silver (Ag). The method of claim 1, wherein the light emitting particles And a diameter larger than the wavelength of the light. The method of claim 1, wherein the carbon nanotube portion A nanotube base layer formed on the first electrode layer; And And a plurality of carbon nanotube protrusions protruding from the nanotube base layer toward the second substrate and emitting the electrons. The method of claim 7, further comprising a gate electrode disposed between the first and second electrodes adjacent to the carbon nanotube protrusions to induce the electrons to be emitted from the carbon nanotube protrusions. Photo-generating device. The method of claim 8, wherein a first driving voltage is applied between the first and second electrode layers. And a second driving voltage is applied between the first electrode layer and the gate electrode. 10. The light generating device of claim 9, wherein the second driving voltage is smaller than the first driving voltage. The method of claim 8, wherein the plurality of gate electrodes are spaced apart from each other disposed on the nanotube base layer, And the carbon nanotube protrusions are disposed in the same area between the gate electrodes. The light generating device of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of insulating supports interposed between the gate electrodes and the nanotube base layer to support the gate electrodes. The method of claim 12, wherein the height of the insulating support And a height equal to or higher than the height of the carbon nanotube protrusions. The light generating apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a plurality of light reflecting portions formed on the gate electrodes to reflect light generated in the light emitting layer and directed toward the first substrate. The light generating apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a spacer unit for forming a discharge space between the first and second substrates while coupling the first and second substrates to each other. The light generating apparatus of claim 15, wherein the discharge space is in a vacuum state or a non-vacuum state. The method of claim 1, wherein the light emitting layer Light generating device, characterized in that disposed in contact with the upper surface of the carbon nanotube portion.

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