Textured Transparent Electrodes to Reduce Internal Reflection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Optoelectronic devices with conductive oxide electrodes suffer from reduced light extraction efficiency due to internal reflection, leading to wasted energy and decreased output.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a textured surface on the conductive material of optoelectronic devices, created by heating a combination of titanium and Indium Tin Oxide (ITO), reduces internal reflection and enhances light extraction efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a conductive oxide electrode is used, then electrical conductivity is achieved, but light extraction efficiency deteriorates due to internal reflection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies surface texturing to the conductive oxide electrode, creating curved and irregular surface profiles instead of flat surfaces. This curvature causes incident light rays to reflect at multiple angles rather than following predictable reflection paths, thereby reducing internal reflection and improving light extraction efficiency from the device
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates localized variations in surface properties by forming textured regions with different heights, slopes, and curvatures across the electrode surface. This local quality variation ensures that light interacting with different portions of the surface experiences different reflection characteristics, collectively reducing overall internal reflection losses
2Loss of energy
If surface texturing is applied to reduce internal reflection, then light extraction efficiency improves, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs self-organized texturing processes where the textured surface structure forms spontaneously through material deposition or growth mechanisms without requiring complex external patterning tools. The system uses inherent physical or chemical processes to generate the desired surface morphology, thereby simplifying manufacturing while achieving the light extraction improvement
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The textured surface significantly increases light extraction efficiency from approximately 50% in un-textured devices to around 96%, while maintaining functional area without loss.
Implementation Method 1
The textured surface significantly increases light extraction efficiency from approximately 50% in un-textured devices to around 96%, while maintaining functional area without loss
Implementation Method 2
The implementation of a textured surface on the conductive material of optoelectronic devices, created by heating a combination of titanium and Indium Tin Oxide (ITO)
Data Source
AI summary
Textured optoelectronic devices and associated methods of manufacture are disclosed herein. In several embodiments, a method of manufacturing a solid state optoelectronic device can include forming a conductive transparent texturing material on a substrate. The method can further include forming a transparent conductive material on the texturing material. Upon heating the device, the texturing material causes the conductive material to grow a plurality of protuberances. The protuberances can improve current spreading and light extraction from the device.