Electroluminescence thermal quenching in SrS:Cu thin-film electroluminescent devices

Electroluminesence (EL) thermal quenching refers a reduction in luminance, concomitant with a reduction in transferred charge, when an alternating-current thin-film electroluminescent (ACTFEL) device is operated at an elevated temperature. EL thermal quenching is found to be significant in SrS:Cu ACTFEL devices operated above similar to 60-80 degrees C. Maximum transferred charge-maximum applied voltage (Q(max)-V-max) and transferred charge capacitance (i.e., dQ(max)/dV(max) vs V-max) measurements as a function of temperature in conjunction with ACTFEL device simulation are employed in order to establish that EL thermal quenching arises from a thermally activated annihilation of positive space charge and a corresponding increase in the threshold voltage. (C) 2000 American Institute of Physics. [S0003-6951(00)02902-8].