# CAREER: Designing Next-Generation Ultraviolet Light Emission

> **NSF 01002627DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT** · Stanford University (CA) · $550,000

## Abstract

Nontechnical Description:
Ultraviolet (UV) light is a crucial wavelength range for a wide range of technological applications, with important uses in sterilization, sensing, manufacturing, and many others. Relative to traditionally used UV lamps, UV light emitting diodes (LEDs) offer longer lifespan, eliminate the use of mercury, and can have significantly higher power efficiencies. Despite this promise, however, commercially available UV LEDs require a complex fabrication process at high temperatures, significantly increasing manufacturing costs. Further, their efficiency drops off significantly with shorter wavelengths. This combination of high costs, complex fabrication, and low efficiencies at short wavelengths highlights the need to explore material systems capable of remedying those shortcomings.
LEDs based on perovskite materials have emerged as promising candidates for next-generation lighting technologies, yet efficiencies from high-energy-emitting materials have remained quite low. This challenge raises our fundamental research question: can the simple, scalable fabrication and high performance of perovskite LEDs be translated into the UV? Doing so would have tremendous impacts on light-emitting technology. We propose to investigate a wide range of perovskite material compositions, guided by theoretical modeling. By relating the underlying material properties to their emissive performance, we will establish design rules for UV material fabrication. We will design electrical contacts to enable charge injection into these materials, controlling the materials within the LED to ensure effective performance. Finally, we will understand the stability of these materials to ensure long-lasting performance towards real impact in a wide range of exciting fields, evidenced with real-world tests. 
We will build a successful world-class scientific workforce at all career levels through the creation of teaching, mentoring, and outreach programs. The PI will develop a

## Key facts

- **NSF award ID:** 2541252
- **Awardee organization:** Stanford University (CA)
- **SAM.gov UEI:** HJD6G4D6TJY5
- **PI:** Daniel N Congreve
- **Primary program:** 01002627DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
- **All programs:** CAREER-Faculty Erly Career Dev, Microelectronics and Semiconductors, Advanced Manufacturing, Biotechnology
- **Estimated total:** $550,000
- **Funds obligated:** $550,000
- **Transaction type:** Standard Grant
- **Period:** 05/01/2026 → 04/30/2031

## Primary source

NSF Award Search: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2541252

## Citation

> US National Science Foundation, Award 2541252, CAREER: Designing Next-Generation Ultraviolet Light Emission. Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-07-05 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nsf/2541252. Licensed CC0.

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