Improving the modulation bandwidth of LED by CdSe/ZnS quantum dots for visible light communication

Visible light communication (VLC) is an advanced and high-efficiency wireless communication technology. As one of the most important light sources in VLC, conventional white light emitting diode (WLED) based on Y₃Al₅O₁₂:Ce³⁺ (YAG:Ce) phosphor limits the system transmitting rate severely due to its narrow modulation bandwidth. Considering the short fluorescent lifetime of quantum dots (QDs), QD-LEDs with wide modulation bandwidths were designed here to improve the transmitting rate of VLC. CdSe/ZnS core/shell QDs and related luminescent microspheres (LMS) were implemented as light conversion materials for the QD-LEDs. Compared with conventional phosphor WLED, the proposed QD-LED and QD-WLED reached maximum improvement on modulation bandwidth at 74.19% and 67.75% respectively. Furthermore, mathematical modeling of smearing was analyzed to establish the relationship between fluorescent lifetime and modulation bandwidth. Our findings will provide an effective solution of white LEDs for high speed VLC.