Warm White Light Emitting Diodes with Gelatin-Coated AgInS2/ZnS Core/Shell Quantum Dots

Cadmium-free and water-soluble AgInS2/ZnS core/shell quantum dots (QDs) with a cost of 2.5 $/g are synthesized in an electric pressure cooker. The QD powders with different Ag/In ratios exhibit bright yellow, orange, and orange-red luminescence under UV light. Their absolute photoluminescence quantum yields (PLQYs) can reach as high as 50.5, 57, and 52%, respectively. Because gelatin is used as the capping agent, the concentrated QDs/gelatin solution can be directly utilized as phosphor for the fabrication of white light-emitting diodes (LEDs) by a simple drop-drying process without the need of resin package. Warm-white LEDs are obtained by combining orange-emitting QDs with blue InGaN chip. As-fabricated warm-white LED exhibits a luminous efficacy of 39.85 lm/W, a correlated color temperature (CCT) of 2634 K and a color rendering index (CRI) of 71 at a drive current of 20 mA. Furthermore, the electroluminescence (EL) stability of LED device and thermal stability of as-prepared QDs are evaluated.