Spintronic light emitting diode

In summary, Utah physicists have invented a new spintronic LED by using an extremely thin layer of lithium fluoride on the cobalt electrode, allowing for the injection of both positively charged electron holes and negatively charged electrons at the same time. This "bipolar" spin valve allows for the generation of light when the injected electrons and holes recombine. This recombination does not require the creation of excitons and can occur in both semiconductors and metals. In both cases, the excess of injected carriers cannot be supported by the statistics and some will recombine back into the valence band.
  • #1
Stanley514
411
2
A new spintronic LED was invented by Utah physicists.

The second advance was the use of an extremely thin layer of lithium fluoride deposited on the cobalt electrode. This layer allows negatively charged electrons to be injected through one side of the spin valve at the same time as positively charged electron holes are injected through the opposite side. That makes the spin valve “bipolar,” unlike older spin valves, into which only holes could be injected.

It is the ability to inject electrons and holes at the same time that allows light to be generated. When an electron combines with a hole, the two cancel each other out and energy is released in the form of light.

http://unews.utah.edu/news_releases/utah-physicists-invent-spintronic-led/

I thought that electron and hole suppose to recombine if electron is in exited state which means electron-hole pair is not in thermodynamic equilibrium with host material. But if carriers just injected in material, why they suppose to recombine? Does that mean that this new material becomes charged after recombination?
 
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  • #2
These are not excitons ... there are two different currents.
 
  • #3
These are not excitons ... there are two different currents.
Then why they do recombine?
 
  • #4
Stanley514 said:
Then why they do recombine?

That's an odd question because you are imposing the rule that only excitons recombine. This is false.

When you excite an electron from the valence band to the conduction band, if the electron is not stable there, it will decay back into the valence band, i.e. recombine with another hole! This has nothing to do with creating an exciton, and the recombination doesn't require that the electron-hole pair is an exciton!

Zz.
 
  • #5
When you excite an electron from the valence band to the conduction band, if the electron is not stable there, it will decay back into the valence band, i.e. recombine with another hole! This has nothing to do with creating an exciton, and the recombination doesn't require that the electron-hole pair is an exciton!
They clam that injection of electrons and holes in semiconductor material from neighbouring materials leads to recombination of injected electrons and holes in this material. My question is: why does it exactly happen and if it is always a case? I assume that this injected carriers are not in excited state? And also, if we inject the same amount of electrons and holes in some material they should be in conduction band and there is charge neutrality. If electrons and holes combine later, injected electrons should fall to valence band (which could be full already) and holes (virtual carries of positive charge) should disappear. Therefore material should become negatively charged or what?
And what if we inject electrons and holes in metal instead of semiconductor, will they recombine too?
 
  • #6
Stanley514 said:
They clam that injection of electrons and holes in semiconductor material from neighbouring materials leads to recombination of injected electrons and holes in this material. My question is: why does it exactly happen and if it is always a case? I assume that this injected carriers are not in excited state?

Why not? After all, based on the statistics, there is a equilibrium population of the number (density) of electrons and holes in each band. By overpopulating, there are too many electrons and too many holes at that particular temperature. So why won't they recombine?

And also, if we inject the same amount of electrons and holes in some material they should be in conduction band and there is charge neutrality. If electrons and holes combine later, injected electrons should fall to valence band (which could be full already) and holes (virtual carries of positive charge) should disappear. Therefore material should become negatively charged or what?
And what if we inject electrons and holes in metal instead of semiconductor, will they recombine too?

Holes are equivalent to having a positive charge. Or in this case, there are electrons being sucked out of the valence band. So yes, they keep the charge neutrality.

In what band would you inject these holes and electrons? Do you see a band gap to separate these two?

Zz.
 
  • #7
Why not? After all, based on the statistics, there is a equilibrium population of the number (density) of electrons and holes in each band. By overpopulating, there are too many electrons and too many holes at that particular temperature. So why won't they recombine?
Does increase of carrier density in some particular material always leads to their recombination? In any kind of material? For example article about thermoelectric effects says:
How should the thermo-emf be calculated in the case of a closed circuit when j, # O?
(iii) In the open circuit, both electrons and holes difTuse from the hot end to the cold
one. Therefore, if we ignore recombination [which is generally the case; see IofTe (1960)
and Anselm (1981)], both electrons and holes will accumulate on the cold end at which
the resulting counter-gradient of concentration stops the electron and hole flows.

In what band would you inject these holes and electrons? Do you see a band gap to separate these two?
I suggest that injections of carrier in some material is possible through conduction band only.
If later theses carriers recombine then ingested electrons suppose to fall to valence band. But valence band is already full, usually. Where would they find a place?
 
  • #8
Stanley514 said:
Does increase of carrier density in some particular material always leads to their recombination?

Think about this case:

You have electron and holes in thermal equilibrium in an intrinsic semiconductor at, say, 300 C. Now, let's say you can suddenly drop the temperature of the material to 50 C. Based on the statistics, there are now excess of electrons and holes in the material that cannot be supported by the temperature. What do you think will happen?

Now look at the situation that we are dealing with. Isn't this the same thing? There is an excess of both charge carriers that cannot be supported by the statistics at that temperature! A fraction of the electrons in the conduction band will drop back to the valence band, as expected.

I suggest that injections of carrier in some material is possible through conduction band only.

Any evidence for this? What are you basing this on for metals?

If later theses carriers recombine then ingested electrons suppose to fall to valence band. But valence band is already full, usually. Where would they find a place?

This is a head-scratcher. Are you making this up as you go along?

Zz.
 
  • #9
Stanley514 said:
I suggest that injections of carrier in some material is possible through conduction band only.
If later theses carriers recombine then ingested electrons suppose to fall to valence band. But valence band is already full, usually. Where would they find a place?

Whether holes or electrons are injected intimately depends on the unique physics at the interface between two materials, how the bands bend , and the electronic structure of both bulk materials. The study of Schotky barriers is extremely complex and confusing, and I don't know if consensus on it's behavior has yet been reached.
 

What is a spintronic light emitting diode (LED)?

A spintronic LED is a type of LED that uses both the electrical charge of electrons and their spin to emit light. This allows for more efficient and precise control of the emitted light.

How does a spintronic LED work?

A spintronic LED works by using a layer of magnetic material, called a spin injector, to control the spin of electrons as they flow through the device. This spin polarization results in a more efficient conversion of electrical energy into light.

What are the potential applications of spintronic LEDs?

Spintronic LEDs have the potential to be used in a variety of applications, including display screens, lighting, and data storage. They could also be used in quantum computing and communications due to their ability to process and transmit spin information.

What are the advantages of spintronic LEDs compared to traditional LEDs?

Spintronic LEDs have several advantages over traditional LEDs, including a higher efficiency, faster response time, and the ability to emit a wider range of colors. They also have the potential to be more compact and energy-efficient, making them a promising technology for future electronic devices.

What are the current challenges in developing spintronic LEDs?

One of the main challenges in developing spintronic LEDs is finding suitable materials that can efficiently convert spin polarization into light emission. Additionally, controlling and manipulating the spin of electrons at room temperature is another obstacle that researchers are working to overcome.

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