Long-living and highly efficient bio-hybrid light-emitting diodes with zero-thermal-quenching biophosphors

Nat Commun. 2020 Feb 13;11(1):879. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-14559-8.

Abstract

Bio-hybrid light-emitting diodes (Bio-HLEDs) based on color down-converting filters with fluorescent proteins (FPs) have achieved moderate efficiencies (50 lm/W) and stabilities (300 h) due to both thermal- and photo-degradation. Here, we present a significant enhancement in efficiency (~130 lm/W) and stability (>150 days) using a zero-thermal-quenching bio-phosphor design. This is achieved shielding the FP surface with a hydrophilic polymer allowing their homogenous integration into the network of a light-guiding and hydrophobic host polymer. We rationalize how the control of the mechanical and optical features of this bio-phosphor is paramount towards highly stable and efficient Bio-HLEDs, regardless of the operation conditions. This is validated by the relationships between the stiffness of the FP-polymer phosphor and the maximum temperature reached under device operation as well as the transmittance of the filters and device efficiency.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bioengineering / methods
  • Circular Dichroism
  • Color
  • Equipment Design
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / chemistry
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / genetics*
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Light*
  • Mutation
  • Organophosphates / chemistry*
  • Polymethyl Methacrylate / chemistry*
  • Protein Structure, Secondary / genetics
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Semiconductors*
  • Temperature

Substances

  • Organophosphates
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • enhanced green fluorescent protein
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Polymethyl Methacrylate