subject: What Is Electroluminescent? [print this page] You may not be familiar with the term electroluminescent but you have heard likely had the pleasure of benefiting from it. This is typically written as ELD or EL and it is what allows for the technology in flat panel screens to be created. It was first introduced in the 1980s. The idea was to offer something that was brighter and further advanced. There were some early bugs to work out but they gave way to something very remarkable that people are impressed with.
Today, you will also find this type of technology used in flat screen computers too. The process is quite complex though. It involves vertical and horizontal wiring holding plates into place. This forms a grid that an electrical current runs through. Radiant energy is created and thermal energy has to be created for it to work.
As that electrical current runs through the grid, it offers a point of light that we call a pixel. Those pixels are very important as they determine the quality of the picture on the screen of a TV or a computer. There is both heat and a chemical reaction that take place with electroluminescent. Electrons are passed through a semiconductor and they release energy known as photons which is light.
The use of inorganic or organic materials have been successfully used to create electroluminescent. This means the make up of the various chemicals used can be very different. Some of those used include zinc sulfide, boron, silver, copper, and manganese. Powder is often used as it is less expensive and it is also easier to work with.
Regardless of what is used to create the electroluminescent, there are four essentials that must be in place:
Electrons have to pass to the interface
The electrons are accelerated by the level of energy that passes through them
There is energy in those electrons that help to activate the pairs of electron holes in the center
This center also needs to have a grounded state
In many regards, electroluminescent is very similar to how a laser is able to work. Yet they dont require as much energy to make them operate. There are at least six layers with electroluminescent. The mandatory six layers include:
Baseplate
Conductor
Insulator
Phosphors
Insulator (2)
Conductor (2)
Given the fact that most people watch 2 hours or more of TV daily, they want to have the best possible image on the screen. They can get this with electroluminescent and it doesnt have to cost a fortune. They can do away with a bulky TV too due to the sleek design of the flat screens. The same is true with the computer and many people spend 8 or more hours a day in front of one. This includes time they spend at work and at home.
Thankfully, the complexity of electroluminescent is all behind the scenes. We can just turn on our TV or our computer and reap the great rewards. You will find the cost of such electronics has dramatically dropped in recent years too.
