Infrared proximity sensor using organic light-emitting diode with quantum dots converter

An efficient visible-to-infrared conversion film is made by blending CdTe quantum dots (CdTe QDs) of 12 nm diameter in a polyvinylpyrrolidone 360 (PVP 360) polymer matrix cast by water solution. The solid-state photoluminescence quantum efficiency exceeds 10% with emission peak at 810 nm. Strong 810 emission is obtained by combining the quantum dot film and a green polyfluorene light-emitting diode. Color filter is used to remove residual light below 780 nm to make it entirely invisible. Infrared photo-detector is made by blending poly[5-(5-(2,5-bis(decyloxy)-4-methylphenyl)thiophen-2-yl)-2,3-bis(4-(2-ethylhexyloxy)phenyl)-7-(5-methylthiophen-2-yl)thieno[3,4-b]pyrazine] (PBDOTTP) with band-gap 1.2 eV and (6,6)-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM). The pixel contains one PD surrounded by four PLED on its four sides. The active areas of the five devices are all I cm by 1 cm and they are on the same plane. Infrared proximity sensor with photo-current over 300 nA at 10 cm object distance is achieved by detecting the reflected infrared signal. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.