Finite-difference time-domain analysis on light extraction in a GaN light-emitting diode by empirically capable dielectric nano-features

Enhancement of light extraction in GaN light-emitting diode (LED) by addressing an array of nanomaterials is investigated by means of three dimensional (3D) finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulation experiments. The array of nanomaterials is placed on top of the GaN LED and is used as a light extraction layer. Depending on its empirically capable features, the refractive index of nanomaterials with perfectly spherical (particle) and hemispherical (plano-convex lens) shapes were decided as 1.47 [Polyethylene glycol (PEG)] and 2.13 [Zirconia (ZrO2)]. As a control experiment, a 3D FDTD simulation experiment of GaN LED with PEG film deposited on top is also carried out. Different light extraction profiles between subwavelength- and over-wavelength-scaled nanomaterials addressed GaN LEDs are observed in distributions of Poynting vector intensity of the light extraction layer-applied GaN LEDs. In addition, our results show that the dielectric effect on light extraction is more efficient in the light extraction layer with over-wavelength scaled features. In the case of a Zirconia particle array (φ=500 nm) with hexagonal closed packed (hcp) structure on top of a GaN LED, light extraction along the normal axis of the LED surface is about six times larger than a GaN LED without the extraction layer.