University Researchers Released A New Paper On Unexplored Semiconducting Materials for Li Fi And Other Next-Generation Data Communications
Research Team from Surrey, Cambridge and UESTC
A few days ago, a team of researchers from the University of Surrey and the University of Cambridge along with a partnership with the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China released a paper on the development of emerging LED materials—organic semiconductors, colloidal quantum dots and metal halide perovskites—for use in optical communications.
Organic semiconductors are made up of polymers or π-bonded molecules and can conduct when charge carriers are injected into them. Colloidal quantum dots (QDs) are nanoscale semiconductor crystals with surface ligands that enable their dispersion in solvents. Metal halide perovskites refer to a large family of crystalline materials with structures similar to that of the natural mineral calcium titanate, which was discovered by Gustav Rose in 1839 and named after Russian mineralogist Lev Perovski. Metal halide perovskites have shown promising optoelectronic properties suitable for light-emitting applications according to a recent paper published by naturematerials.
The Research team examined efforts to improve the modulation performance and device efficiency of these LEDs and consider potential applications in on-chip interconnects and light fidelity (Li Fi, also spell "Li-Fi). They also explore the challenges that exist in developing practical high-speed LED-based data communication systems. The paper was published by natureelectronics .
The continuing development of consumer electronics, mobile communications and advanced computing technologies has led to rapid growth in data traffic, creating challenges for the communications industry. Light-emitting diode (LED)-based communication links are of potential use in both free space and optical interconnect applications, and LEDs based on emerging semiconductor materials, which can offer tunable optoelectronic properties and solution-processable manufacturing, are of particular interest in the development of next-generation data communications.
Credit to University of Surrey
Dr Aobo Ren, the co-first author and visiting postdoctoral researcher at the University of Surrey, said:
“There’s excitement surrounding CQDs and perovskites because they offer great promise for low-power, cost-effective and scalable communications modules.
“Although the conventional inorganic thin-film technologies are likely to continue to play a dominant role in optical communications, we believe that LEDs based on these materials can play a complementary role that could have a sizeable impact on the industry.”
Hao Wang, the co-first author and PhD student at the University of Cambridge, said:
“Future applications of LEDs will not be limited to the fields of lighting and displays. The development of LEDs based on these solution-processable materials for optical communication purposes has only begun, and their performance is still far from what’s required. It is necessary and timely to discuss the potential strategies and present technical challenges for the deployment of real-world communication links using these LEDs from the material, device and system aspects.”
Professor Jiang Wu, the corresponding author from the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, said:
“Photonic devices for the Internet of Things (IoT) and 6G communication systems need to be high-speed, low-cost and easy to integrate. Organic semiconductors, CQDs and perovskites are promising materials that could be used to complement and/or compete with conventional inorganic counterparts in particular optoelectronic applications.”
Dr Wei Zhang, the corresponding author and Senior Lecturer from the University of Surrey, said:
“IoT and 6G communication systems represent a trillion-dollar market in the next few years. We are proud to collaborate with the top research teams in this field and accelerate the development of emerging data communication technology for rapid entry to the market in the next decade.”
What is Li Fi?
Li-Fi, also known as "Light Fidelity" is a wireless optical networking technology, which uses light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to transmit data. In 2011, professor Harald Haas made a Li-Fi demonstration at the TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) Global Talk on Visible Light Communication (VLC).
VLC uses light as a medium to deliver high-speed communication like Wi-Fi and complies with the IEEE standard IEEE 802.15.7. The IEEE 802.15.7 is a high-speed, bidirectional, and fully networked wireless communication technology-based standard similar to Wi-Fi's IEEE 802.11.
How does Li Fi work?
Li-Fi is a high speed, bidirectional, and fully networked wireless communication of data using light. Li-Fi constitutes of several light bulbs that form a wireless network.
When an electrical current goes through to a LED light bulb, a stream of light (photons) emits from the lamp. LED bulbs are semiconductor devices, which means that the brightness of the light flowing through them can change at extremely high speeds. The signal is sent by modulating the light at different rates. The signal can then be received by a detector that interprets the changes in light intensity (the signal) as data. Also when the LED is ON, you transmit a digital 1, and when it is OFF, you transmit a 0.
Li Fi Benefits
The primary benefits of Li Fi are as follows:
• Security: Provides entirely secure access. Where there is no light there is no data.
• Safety: Does not produce electromagnetic radiation and does not interfere with existing electronic systems.
• Localisation: Allows localisation due to the small coverage area of Li Fi access point - localisation can be used for very precise asset tracking.
• Data density: Provides ubiquitous high-speed wireless access that offers substantially greater data density (data rate per unit area) than RF through high bandwidth reuse.
Li Fi Applications
Li-Fi can be used for so many applications and the list is increasing every year. You can read our updated list of Li-Fi applications at the following link:
Credit to pureLiFi
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