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

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.