Institute of Photonics Photonic Materials & Devices

This group is led by Professor Martin Dawson, and presently consists of around 18 members of staff and students.

Since 2002 the group has been fabricating gallium-nitride (GaN) micro-LEDs. The research is motivated by the potential use of these high-density arrays of micro-structured light-emitters in instrumentation and scientific applications.

We have fabricated arrays of micro-disk, micro-ring and micro-stripe devices at wavelengths from the ultraviolet (370nm) to green (540nm), and operated them in parallel-addressed (all elements on) and matrix-addressed (individually addressable) formats. These devices are being explored for use in:

• microscopy (sectioned imaging, fluorescence lifetime imaging)
• lab-on-chip screening
• genechip synthesis
• light-patterned electrodes
• mask-free lithography]
• hybrid organic/inorganic LEDs

The group has been involved in several large multi-partner, multi-disciplinary grants, and is currently involved in the "Ultra-parallel Visible Light Communcations" (UPVLC) project, an ambitious £4.6 million project which will explore the transformative technology of communications in an imaginative and foresighted way.