Patent ID: 8610125

Claim:
A Nanotube Array Light Emitting Diode comprising: (a) a first electrically conductive layer capable of reflecting at least 70% of incident light. (b) at least one array of a plurality of nanotubes superposed on, positioned normal to the plane of, and in electrical communication with the first electrically conductive layer, wherein each nanotube of the plurality of nanotubes comprises sequential first and second sections exhibiting opposite first and second semiconductor-type conductivity, respectively, so as to comprise a p-n or n-p semiconductor junction; (c) a first, optically transparent or semi-transparent dielectric layer superposed on the first electrically conductive layer having a thickness corresponding to the length of the section of each nanotube exhibiting the first semiconductor-type conductivity; (d) a second, optically transparent or semi-transparent dielectric layer superposed on the first dielectric layer having a thickness corresponding to the length of the section of each nanotube exhibiting the second semiconductor-type conductivity and having a surface through which light may be emitted and (e) a second electrically conductive layer superposed on the second dielectric layer and in electrical communication with the at least one array of nanotubes, and wherein said second electrically conductive layer is capable of transmitting at least a portion of the light emitted from surface of the second dielectric layer.