Trailing edge light emission from ZnS:Mn and ZnS:Tb,F in a thick dielectric electroluminescent display

The study of a thick dielectric electroluminescent device has identified the presence of a light emission from ZnS:Mn and ZnS:Tb, F phosphors coincident with the trailing edge of the driving voltage pulse. The trailing edge emission appears to be related to some of the unique electro-optical properties of this EL technology. Both leading and trailing edge current measurements, together with capacitance-voltage data, have been employed to characterize the device. A doped phosphor probe layer was used to clarify the location of the source for the most intense trailing edge luminance emission. A mechanism for the trailing edge luminance is proposed, similar to that which is responsible for the luminescence peak observed at the leading edge of the driving pulse as seen in displays using only thin-him dielectric layers. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.