Micro-Trench Deep-Ultraviolet LEDs With Boosted Efficiency for High-Speed Solar-Blind Optical Communication

Muhammad Hunain Memon, Huabin Yu, Hongfeng Jia, Dong Li, Rui Wang, Jikai Yao, Yang Kang, Wei Chen, Shuiqing Li, Jinjian Zheng, Jiangyong Zhang, Chao Shen, Tao Tao, Boon S. Ooi, Haiding Sun*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

The deep-ultraviolet (DUV) band presents an untapped opportunity for enhancing optical wireless communication, particularly in outdoor environments where visible light often falls short. To unlock this potential, a highly efficient DUV light source with substantial bandwidth is essential. Herein, we propose an easy-to-fabricate micro-trench DUV light-emitting diode (MT-LED) architecture, having micro trenches on the LED surface incorporating the micro rings with Ni/Au p-pad, which also works as a reflector as well as an interconnect. The embedded micro-trench structure promotes efficient escape of photons from the LED, resulting in improved light output power (LOP), with a significant 1.25 times higher in comparison with conventional LED (C-LED) at a current density of 120 A/cm2. More importantly, an enlarged bandwidth was also achieved in MT-LED, with a demonstration of 11.7% higher 3 dB optical bandwidth in contrast to the C-LED since the incorporation of micro-trench structure exhibits less resistance-capacitance time constant and a shorter carrier lifetime. Remarkably, the simultaneous improved LOP and enlarged optical bandwidth in MT-LED strongly boost its communication data rate by 54.7%, increasing from 1.240 Gbps (using C-LED) to 1.919 Gbps. The micro-trench structure is essential for developing high-speed, solar-blind optical wireless communication systems, significantly advancing modern connectivity and optical communication networks.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2248-2254
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Lightwave Technology
Volume43
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - 2025

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 IEEE.

Keywords

  • Deep ultraviolet (DUV)
  • light emitting diode (LED)
  • optical wireless communication
  • solar blind communication

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

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