TY - JOUR
T1 - Deciphering Limitations to Meet Highly Stable Bio-Hybrid Light-Emitting Diodes
AU - Fernández-Luna, Verónica
AU - Sánchez-de Alcázar, Daniel
AU - Fernández-Blázquez, Juan P.
AU - Cortajarena, Aitziber L.
AU - Coto, Pedro B.
AU - Costa, Rubén D.
PY - 2019/10/1
Y1 - 2019/10/1
N2 - Color down-converting filters with fluorescent proteins (FPs) embedded in a polymer matrix have led to new bio-hybrid light-emitting diodes (Bio-HLEDs), featuring stabilities of 100 h and <1 min at low and high applied currents, respectively. Herein, the FP deactivation mechanism in Bio-HLEDs at high driving currents is deciphered. Primarily, the nonradiative energy relaxation of FPs upon excitation promotes the release of excess energy to the polymer matrix, reaching 60 °C and, in turn, a significant thermal emission quenching. This is circumvented by changing the device architecture, achieving stabilities of >300 h at high driving currents. Here, the photoinduced deactivation mechanism takes place, consisting of a slow and reversible partial dehydration followed by a quick and irreversible deactivation of the highly emissive ionic form. This is supported by steady-state/time-resolved emission, circular dichroism, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopic techniques. Overall, the limitations of Bio-HLEDs concerning matrix, buffers, device design, and FP stability are highlighted as key aspects to achieve efficient and stable devices.
AB - Color down-converting filters with fluorescent proteins (FPs) embedded in a polymer matrix have led to new bio-hybrid light-emitting diodes (Bio-HLEDs), featuring stabilities of 100 h and <1 min at low and high applied currents, respectively. Herein, the FP deactivation mechanism in Bio-HLEDs at high driving currents is deciphered. Primarily, the nonradiative energy relaxation of FPs upon excitation promotes the release of excess energy to the polymer matrix, reaching 60 °C and, in turn, a significant thermal emission quenching. This is circumvented by changing the device architecture, achieving stabilities of >300 h at high driving currents. Here, the photoinduced deactivation mechanism takes place, consisting of a slow and reversible partial dehydration followed by a quick and irreversible deactivation of the highly emissive ionic form. This is supported by steady-state/time-resolved emission, circular dichroism, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopic techniques. Overall, the limitations of Bio-HLEDs concerning matrix, buffers, device design, and FP stability are highlighted as key aspects to achieve efficient and stable devices.
KW - bio-hybrid light-emitting diodes
KW - color down-converting filters
KW - fluorescent proteins
KW - hybrid light-emitting diodes
KW - thermal and photo-deactivation mechanisms
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U2 - 10.1002/adfm.201904356
DO - 10.1002/adfm.201904356
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85070745249
VL - 29
JO - Advanced Materials for Optics and Electronics
JF - Advanced Materials for Optics and Electronics
SN - 1057-9257
IS - 42
M1 - 1904356
ER -