Method for making a silicon quantum dot fluorescent lamp

A silicon quantum dot fluorescent lamp is made via providing a high voltage source between a cathode assembly and an anode assembly. The cathode assembly is made by providing a first substrate, coating a buffer layer on the first substrate, coating a catalytic layer on the buffer layer and providing a plurality of nanometer discharging elements on the catalytic layer. The anode assembly is made via providing a second substrate, coating a silicon quantum dot fluorescent film on the second substrate with and coating a metal film on the silicon quantum dot fluorescent film.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a silicon quantum dot fluorescent lamp and, more particularly, to a method for making a silicon quantum dot fluorescent lamp that efficiently transfers heat and provides a lot of electrons.

2. Related Prior Art

Fluorescent lamps containing mercury are often used. In such a lamp, electricity causes mercury vapor to discharge, thus generating ultraviolet light. The ultraviolet light excites three fluorescent materials to emit red, green and blue light, respectively. The mercury is however hazard to the environment.

In addition to Edison light bulbs and fluorescent lights, light emitting diodes (“LED”) are getting more and more popular. A white-light LED is operated in three patterns as follows:

Firstly, a red-light LED, a green-light LED and a blue-light LED are used together. The illuminative efficiency is high. However, the structure is complicated for including many electrodes and wires. The size is large. The process is complicated for involving many steps of wiring. The cost is high. The wiring could cause disconnection of the wires and damages to the crystalline grains, thus affecting the throughput.

Secondly, a blue-light LED and yellow fluorescent powder are used. The size is small, and the cost low. However, the structure is still complicated for including many electrodes and wires. The process is still complicated for involving many steps of wiring. The wiring could cause disconnection of the wires and damages to the crystalline grains, thus affecting the throughput.

Thirdly, an ultra-light LED and white fluorescent powder are used. The process is simple, and the cost low. However, the resultant light includes two separate spectrums. A red object looks orange under the resultant light because of light polarization. The color-rendering index is poor. Furthermore, the decay of the luminosity is serious. The quality of fluorescent material deteriorates in a harsh environment. The lamp therefore suffers a short light and serious light polarization.

There is another serious problem with the LED-based lamps. If looking directly at an LED-based lamp, a person will feel very uncomfortable in the eyes because of the intensive light emitted from the LED-based lamp.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a silicon quantum dot fluorescent lamp that transfer heat efficiently and provides a lot of electrons.

To achieve the foregoing objective of the present invention, a silicon quantum dot fluorescent lamp is made via providing a high voltage source between a cathode assembly and an anode assembly. The cathode assembly is made by providing a first substrate, coating a buffer layer on the first substrate, coating a catalytic layer on the buffer layer and providing a plurality of nanometer discharging elements on the catalytic layer. The anode assembly is made via providing a second substrate, coating a silicon quantum dot fluorescent film on the second substrate with and coating a metal film on the silicon quantum dot fluorescent film.

Other objectives, advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description referring to the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring toFIG. 1, there is shown a method for making a silicon quantum dot fluorescent lamp according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, at11, a first substrate21is provided. The first substrate21may be made of silicon, glass, ceramic or stainless steel.

Referring toFIGS. 1,3and4, at12, the first substrate21is coated with a buffer layer22, and the buffer layer22is coated with a catalytic layer23. The coating is done in an e-gun evaporation system or a sputtering system. The buffer layer22is made of titanium. The catalytic layer23is made of nickel, aluminum or platinum. Referring toFIG. 3, nanometer carbon tubes24are provided on the catalytic layer23in a chemical vapor deposition (“CVD”) process in which ethane or methane is used as a carbon source. Referring toFIG. 4, instead of the nanometer carbon tubes24, nanometer silicon wires25are provided on the catalystic layer23in a CVD process in which monosilane or dichlorosilane is used as a silicon source. The nanometer carbon tubes24and nanometer silicon wires25are made of nanometer sizes and with conductivity.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 5, at13, a second substrate31is provided. The second substrate31is made of a transparent material such as glass, quartz and sapphire.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 6, at14, the second substrate31is coated with a silicon quantum dot fluorescent film32of a high dielectric coefficient in a CVD process. The silicon quantum dot fluorescent film32includes a plurality of silicon quantum dots321of various sizes of 1 to 10 nm. The silicon quantum dots321are evenly distributed in the silicon quantum dot fluorescent film32. The silicon quantum dot fluorescent film32is a conductive or none-conductive matrix made of a material such as polymer, silicon oxide, silicon nitride and silicon carbide.

Referring toFIGS. 7 through 9, at15, in an e-gun evaporation system or a sputtering system, the silicon quantum dot fluorescent film32is coated with a metal film33, a patterned metal film34or a metal mesh35, thus forming an anode assembly3. The metal film33, the patterned metal film34or the metal mesh35transfers heat efficiently and provides electrons in addition to electrons released from the nanometer carbon tubes24or the nanometer silicon wires25. Each of the metal film33, the patterned metal film34and the metal mesh35is made of gold, silver, copper or aluminum.

Referring toFIGS. 10 through 15, at16, the nanometer carbon tubes24or the nanometer silicon wires25, which can discharge at the tips, are connected to an external high voltage source4, thus forming a field-effect electron source. The high voltage source4generates a voltage difference between the cathode assembly and the anode assembly, thus generating a field-effect electric field for accelerating the electrons in the field-effect electron source. The electrons hit and excite the silicon quantum dot321in the silicon quantum dot fluorescent film32to emit visible light.

The anode assembly consisting of the silicon quantum dot film32and the metal film33, the patterned metal film34or the metal mesh35increases the transfer of heat and the number of the electrons.