Extracting Decay-Rate Ratios From Photoluminescence Quantum Efficiency Measurements in Optoelectronic Semiconductors

New materials are needed to achieve cheap, efficient solar panels, LEDs, and other optoelectronic devices. However, key measurements to reveal the fundamental mechanisms dictating device optimization are typically long and expensive. This study shows that the same level of understanding can be achieved far more rapidly by combining measurements of photoluminescence quantum efficiency and time-resolved photoluminescence. These results plus ultraviolet-visible absorption measurements allow device efficiency to be predicted, providing a tool for the rapid screening and optimization of materials, which is of interest to spectroscopists and device fabricators in both academia and industry.