A transition towards energy-efficient and environmentally friendly light sources is an essential part of the worldwide strategy to reduce electricity consumption. Nowadays, (inorganic) LEDs use a mature technology that can outperform traditional light sources due to their low power consumption, long lifetime, fast switching, robustness, and compact size. Despite these advantages, the much-needed transition is being hampered by the limited control over color quality and directionality of LED light emission that standard materials and reflectors and lenses, typically employed as secondary optical elements, provide.
NANOPHOM seeks to surpass the limits imposed by geometrical optics in the radiation shaping of light-emitting devices by means of nanophotonics. We aim at tailoring the emission properties of nano-sources using integrated nanostructured optical components, rather than following the traditional approach of intrinsic material or chemical modification. Based on a profound understanding of the light-matter interaction in the nanoscale, optical design can propel the development of versatile LED color converters. Specifically, NANOPHOM explores the combination of rare-earth nanocrystals with different photonic materials, i.e. multilayers, surface textures and three-dimensional architectures to improve the performance of the color conversion process in light-emitting devices. The ultimate goal of this project is to develop large-area photonic materials with devised chromaticity and improved conversion and extraction efficiencies, which will enable a conscious use of the generated light. Indeed, these results are expected to find a direct application in the field of artificial lighting, especially in unconventional illumination applications such as roadway, stage or retail lighting, and applications beyond, like horticulture or healthcare, where highly specific and demanding specifications are required. Thus, our approach may have significant economic and environmental impact, reducing energy costs for lighting, lessening carbon dioxide emissions and minimizing light pollution.
