Gallium nitride superluminescent light emitting diodes: from the lab to the market

• Research unit: INNOSUISSE
• Project number: 13124.1;9 PFFLM-NM

Short description (English)

Gallium nitride superluminescent light emitting diodes: from the lab to the market

Short description (French)

Gallium nitride superluminescent light emitting diodes: from the lab to the market

Abstract (English)

The first blue superluminescent light emitting diodes (SLED) in the world were realized in Switzerland thanks to the joint effort of the group of prof. Grandjean at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) and EXALOS AG, leading company in the production of broadband light sources based on SLEDs. Due to the relatively low material quality, high operating voltage and high operating current, first prototypes realized in 2007 could only work under pulsed injection with average output powers lower than 1 mW and with a centre wavelength around 420 nm. Careful optimization of the materials and fabrication process financed under CTI project number 9130.1 lead today to power levels exceeding 10mW under CW injection and with centre wavelengths that can be varied between 400 and 440 nm. This performance would be perfectly suitable for the blue SLEDs to become a commercial product. However, the device lifetime does not match yet the market expectations and a further optimization of materials and module build-up is required. The aim of the present project will be to address all the problems resulting in a fast degradation of device performance versus time. The success of the project will result in a ready-to-market product release.

Abstract (French)

The first blue superluminescent light emitting diodes (SLED) in the world were realized in Switzerland thanks to the joint effort of the group of prof. Grandjean at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) and EXALOS AG, leading company in the production of broadband light sources based on SLEDs. Due to the relatively low material quality, high operating voltage and high operating current, first prototypes realized in 2007 could only work under pulsed injection with average output powers lower than 1 mW and with a centre wavelength around 420 nm. Careful optimization of the materials and fabrication process financed under CTI project number 9130.1 lead today to power levels exceeding 10mW under CW injection and with centre wavelengths that can be varied between 400 and 440 nm. This performance would be perfectly suitable for the blue SLEDs to become a commercial product. However, the device lifetime does not match yet the market expectations and a further optimization of materials and module build-up is required. The aim of the present project will be to address all the problems resulting in a fast degradation of device performance versus time. The success of the project will result in a ready-to-market product release.