Flexible transparent displays based on core/shell upconversion nanophosphor-incorporated polymer waveguides

Core/shell (C/S)-structured upconversion nanophosphor (UCNP)-incorporated polymer waveguide-based flexible transparent displays are demonstrated. Bright green- and blue-emitting Li(Gd,Y)F(4):Yb,Er and Li(Gd,Y)F(4):Yb,Tm UCNPs are synthesized via solution chemical route. Their upconversion luminescence (UCL) intensities are enhanced by the formation of C/S structure with LiYF(4) shell. The Li(Gd,Y)F(4):Yb,Er/LiYF(4) and Li(Gd,Y)F(4):Yb,Tm/LiYF(4) C/S UCNPs exhibit 3.3 and 2.0 times higher UCL intensities than core counterparts, respectively. In addition, NaGdF(4):Yb,Tm/NaGdF(4):Eu C/S UCNPs are synthesized and they show red emission via energy transfer and migration of Yb(3+) → Tm(3+) → Gd(3+) → Eu(3+). The C/S UCNPs are incorporated into bisphenol A ethoxylate diacrylate which is used as a core material of polymer waveguides. The fabricated stripe-type polymer waveguides are highly flexible and transparent (transmittance > 90% in spectral range of 443–900 nm). The polymer waveguides exhibit bright blue, green, and red luminescence, depending on the incorporated UCNPs into the polymer core, under coupling with a near infrared (NIR) laser. Moreover, patterned polymer waveguide-based display devices are fabricated by reactive ion etching process and they realize bright blue-, green-, and red-colored characters under coupling with an NIR laser.