NANOPARTICLE GRADIENT REFRACTIVE INDEX ENCAPSULANTS FOR SEMI-CONDUCTOR DIODES

1 . A gradient refractive index (GRIN) light emitting diode (LED), comprising:

a die at least partially encapsulated within a polymer; and

nanoparticles dispersed within the polymer,

wherein the nanoparticles have a nanoparticle concentration having a continuous concentration gradient related to a distance from the die, the continuous concentration gradient extending from location at least proximate to the die towards an exterior surface of the polymer, and

the nanoparticles have a nanoparticle refractive index, the polymer has a polymer refractive index, and the nanoparticle refractive index is different from the polymer refractive index.

2 . The LED of claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticle concentration increases or decreases with increasing distance from the die.

3 . The LED of claim 2 , wherein the nanoparticle refractive index is greater than the polymer refractive index.

4 . The LED of claim 3 , wherein the nanoparticles comprise titania, zirconia, tellurium dioxide, silicon carbide, diamond, niobia, hafnium dioxide, yttrium oxide, tantalum oxide, antimony trioxide, gallium phosphide, gallium nitride, alumina, germanium dioxide, or a combination thereof.

5 . The LED of claim 2 , wherein the nanoparticle refractive index is less than the polymer refractive index

6 . The LED of claim 5 , wherein the nanoparticles comprise silica, gallium oxide, or a combination thereof

7 . The LED of claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticles have an average diameter of between 10 nm and 50 nm.

8 . The LED of claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticles and the die comprise the same material.

9 . The LED of claim 1 , wherein a transmission band of the nanoparticles comprises a range of wavelengths that encompasses at least a majority of wavelengths in an emission band of the die.

10 . The LED of claim 1 , wherein the polymer further comprises phosphor particles dispersed within the polymer.

11 . The LED of claim 10 , wherein the phosphor particles are dispersed along a concentration gradient related to a distance from the die.

12 . The LED of claim 1 , wherein the polymer further comprises a porosity gradient comprising droplets dispersed within the polymer along a concentration gradient related to a distance from the die.

13 . A method of making a GRIN light emitting diode (LED), the method comprising:

doping a polymer with charged nanoparticles that have a refractive index that is different from a refractive index of the polymer;

at least partially encapsulating a die in the doped polymer; and

applying a voltage to the die that causes the charged nanoparticles to migrate, thereby dispersing the nanoparticles along a concentration gradient related to a distance from the die.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein applying the voltage causes the charged nanoparticles to migrate toward the die or away from the die.

15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the voltage is no more than about 5 volts.

16 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising doping the polymer with phosphor particles.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein applying the voltage causes the phosphor particles to migrate, thereby dispersing the phosphor particles along a concentration gradient related to a distance from the die.

18 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the polymer is uncured, and the method further comprises curing the polymer before, during or after application of the voltage to the die.

19 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising controlling a migration rate of the charged nanoparticles by controlling a viscosity of the polymer, controlling a value of the applied voltage, controlling a value of the charge on the charged nanoparticles, controlling a curing rate of an uncured polymer, or a combination thereof

20 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising controlling a refractive index distribution of the charged nanoparticles dispersed along the concentration gradient by controlling a quantity of the charged nanoparticles used to dope the polymer, controlling a refractive index of the charged nanoparticles, or a combination thereof.

21 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising doping the polymer with droplets having an electric charge.

22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein applying the voltage causes the charged droplets to migrate, thereby dispersing the droplets along a concentration gradient related to a distance from the die.

23 . A method of making a GRIN light emitting diode (LED), the method comprising:

doping a polymer with charged droplets, wherein the droplets comprise gas, plasma or liquid, and have a droplet refractive index that is different from the refractive index of the polymer;

at least partially encapsulating a die in the doped polymer; and

applying a voltage to the die that causes the charged droplets to migrate, thereby dispersing the droplets along a concentration gradient related to a distance from the die.

24 . The LED of claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticles are present in the polymer in at least about 1% volume fraction.