GaN and ZnO Light Emitters

Abstract

In the recent several decades, there are huge concerns in solid-state light emitters based on semiconductor compound materials, which emit light of ultraviolet to red light. Light-emitting diode (LED) fabrication technology for this application is now relatively mature. Currently, the lifetime of blue or green light-emitter are apparently determined mostly by light-induced degradation of a packaging unit encapsulating the LED. New renaissance is taking place in research societies and industries of LEDs because of the straight possibilities and needs for LED-based solid-state lighting in human life instead of the conventional ones employing incandescent, halogen, fluorescent lightings etc. Among various semiconductor compounds applicable to LEDs, GaN and ZnO are regarded as promising materials for solid-state lighting because ultraviolet- or blue-light emitters, which are applicable to white-light LEDs, based on these materials are possible. In this chapter, current technologies and researches on GaN- and ZnO-based LEDs are described. A special emphasis is given to the efficiency of the LEDs in the review of the GaN-based LEDs, while current status technologies in LED applications of ZnO-based materials have been reviewed.