Enhanced light extraction in GaN-based light-emitting diodes by evanescent wave coupling effect

Subwavelength-sized truncated cones satisfying the requirement for evanescent wave coupling effect at the emission wavelength were fabricated on the p-side of a GaN-based blue light-emitting diode (LED). The light-extraction efficiency increased by a factor of approximately 2.2 relative to that of a reference LED with a flat light-extraction surface. This light-extraction enhancement ratio is much larger than that realized by using conventional light-extraction techniques. The evanescent wave coupling effect appearing on the surface of the truncated-cone structure is believed to be the mechanism responsible for the large enhancement of light extraction.