High-Performance, Solution-Processed Quantum Dot Light-Emitting Field-Effect Transistors with a Scandium-Incorporated Indium Oxide Semiconductor

Abstract

Light-emitting field-effect transistors (LEFETs) have attained great attention due to their special characteristics of both the switching capacity and the electroluminescence capacity. However, high-performance LEFETs with high mobility, high brightness, and high efficiency have not been realized due to the difficulty in developing high electron and hole mobility materials with suitable band structures. In this paper, quantum dot hybrid LEFETs (QD-HLEFETs) combining high-luminous-efficiency quantum dots (QDs) and a solution-processed scandium-incorporated indium oxide (Sc:In2O3) semiconductor were demonstrated. The red QD-HLEFET showed high electrical and optical performance with an electron mobility of 0.8 cm2 V–1 s–1, a maximum brightness of 13 400 cd/m2, and a maximum external quantum efficiency of 8.7%. The high performance of the QD-HLEFET is attributed to the good energy band matching between Sc:In2O3 and QDs and the balanced hole and electron injection (less exciton nonradiative recombination). In addition, incorporation of Sc into In2O3 can suppress the oxygen vacancy and free carrier generation and brings about excellent current and optical modulation (the on/off current ratio is 105 and the on/off brightness ratio is 106).