Optimize opto-electronic devices with new compact measuring system

The LumY Pro is an easy-to-use, non-invasive and versatile system with unparalleled compactness to swiftly quantify absolute electro- and photoluminescence photon fluxes of thin film absorbers, layer stacks or complete devices under various operating conditions.

The LumY Pro is an easy-to-use, non-invasive and versatile system with unparalleled compactness to swiftly quantify absolute electro- and photoluminescence photon fluxes of thin film absorbers, layer stacks or complete devices under various operating conditions.

In order to develop efficient opto-electronic devices such as solar cells or LEDs, it is crucial to improve the quality of the semiconductors. To achieve this, it is necessary to determine the luminescence yield of the semiconductor material. For this characterization, a research team at HZB has developed a new measuring device that precisely determines the luminescence and is also very compact. In order to evaluate the potential for commercial applications, the team now receives a Field Study Fellowship from the Helmholtz Association.

A research team from HZB has already built a working prototype of the instrument, which will now be developed into a commercial product. The aim is to make the "LumY Pro" measuring system, which was developed and optimised for their own research, available to a wide range of users - in the spirit of technology and knowledge transfer. The researchers are focusing on users from research and industry who are working on the further development of opto-electronic devices such as solar cells and LEDs.

The "LumY Pro" measuring device is smaller than a shoe box (20x22x12 cm) and can also be used in the protective atmosphere of a glove box. It measures the quantity of photons or electrons being injected into a sample and the quantity of photons emitted by the excitation (absolute photon or electroluminescence). This enables researchers to draw conclusions about the charge carrier density in the absorber and to look in detail at where losses occur in the device or layer.

Measuring the quality of film absorbers, layer stacks and complete devices

Single layers, but also layer stacks and complete devices can be examined with flexibly adjustable light intensities and electrical voltages. The detailed analysis is integrated in a specially developed measuring and evaluation software. The software and the prototype of the system have already been successfully tested on various semiconductors in cooperation with the Helmholtz Innovation Lab HySPRINT.

Applicable for many semiconductor materials - evaluation software is included

LumY Pro can be used for the quality characterization of organic-inorganic perovskites, but also of other semiconductor materials such as kesterites or gallium arsenide. The development team hopes to accelerate the research and development of such opto-electronic devices and reduce the consumption of resources. The potential is great, because more than 400 research groups worldwide are working on solar cells made of perovskites alone.

"A precise measuring system that combines all these characterization possibilities is currently lacking on the market. We now want to implement this in a compact, versatile and yet easy to use product," says Dr. Lukas Kegelmann from the project team. The field study will now show how large the market potential is and which applications and functionalities are particularly interesting for users from research and industry.  

LumY Pro was developed by scientists of the HZB groups around Dr. Thomas Unold, Dr. Eva Unger and Prof. Dr. Steve Albrecht.

(sz)

  • Copy link

You might also be interested in

  • Green hydrogen: MXenes shows talent as catalyst for oxygen evolution
    Science Highlight
    09.09.2024
    Green hydrogen: MXenes shows talent as catalyst for oxygen evolution
    The MXene class of materials has many talents. An international team led by HZB chemist Michelle Browne has now demonstrated that MXenes, properly functionalised, are excellent catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction in electrolytic water splitting. They are more stable and efficient than the best metal oxide catalysts currently available. The team is now extensively characterising these MXene catalysts for water splitting at the Berlin X-ray source BESSY II and Soleil Synchrotron in France.
  • SpinMagIC: 'EPR on a chip' ensures quality of olive oil and beer
    News
    04.09.2024
    SpinMagIC: 'EPR on a chip' ensures quality of olive oil and beer
    The first sign of spoilage in many food products is the formation of free radicals, which reduces the shelf-life and the overall quality of the food. Until now, the detection of these molecules has been very costly for the food companies. Researchers at HZB and the University of Stuttgart have developed a portable, small and inexpensive 'EPR on a chip' sensor that can detect free radicals even at very low concentrations. They are now working to set up a spin-off company, supported by the EXIST research transfer programme of the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection. The EPRoC sensor will initially be used in the production of olive oil and beer to ensure the quality of these products.
  • Review on ocular particle therapy (OPT) by international experts
    Science Highlight
    03.09.2024
    Review on ocular particle therapy (OPT) by international experts
    A team of leading experts in medical physics, physics and radiotherapy, including HZB physicist Prof. Andrea Denker and Charité medical physicist Dr Jens Heufelder, has published a review article on ocular particle therapy. The article appeared in the Red Journal, one of the most prestigious journals in the field. It outlines the special features of this form of eye therapy, explains the state of the art and current research priorities, provides recommendations for the delivery of radiotherapy and gives an outlook on future developments.