A novel experimental method is proposed for observing plasma dynamics subjected to magnetic fields based on a newly developed cylindrical theta-pinch device. By measuring simultaneously the temporal profiles of multiple parameters including the drive current, luminosity, plasma density, and plasma temperature, it provides a basis for observing the plasma dynamics of the theta pinch, such as shock transport and magnetohydrodynamic instability. We show that the plasma evolution can be distinguished as three phases. First, in the radial implosion phase, the trajectories of the current sheath and shock wave are ascertained by combining experimental data with a snowplow model (Lee model) in a self-consistent way. Second, in the axial flow phase, we demonstrate that m = 0 (sausage) instability associated with the plasma axial flow suppresses the plasma end-loss. Third, in the newly observed anomalous heating phase, the lower-hybrid-drift instability may develop near the current sheath, which induces anomalous resistivity and enhanced plasma heating. The present experimental data and novel method offer better understanding of plasma dynamics in the presence of magnetic fields, thereby providing important support for relevant research in magneto-inertial fusion.

Perovskite light emitting diodes (PeLEDs) have attracted considerable research attention because of their external quantum efficiency (EQE) of >20% and have potential scope for further improvement. However, compared to red and green PeLEDs, blue PeLEDs have not been extensively investigated, which limits their commercial applications in the fields of luminance and full-color displays. In this review, blue-PeLED-related research is categorized by the composition of perovskite. The main challenges and corresponding optimization strategies for perovskite films are summarized. Next, the novel strategies for the design of device structures of blue PeLEDs are reviewed from the perspective of transport layers and interfacial layers. Accordingly, future directions for blue PeLEDs are discussed. This review can be a guideline for optimizing perovskite film and device structure of blue PeLEDs, thereby enhancing their development and application scope.

Quantum dots (QDs) can achieve high quantum yields close to unity in liquid solutions, whereas they exhibit a decreased conversion efficiency after being integrated into solid-state polymer matrices for light-emitting diode (LED) devices, which is called the host matrix effect. In this study, we propose a solid–liquid hybrid-state QD-LED to solve this issue. The ethylene-terminated polydimethylsiloxane (ethylene-PDMS) is used to establish a solid-state cross-linked network, whereas the methyl-terminated PDMS (methyl-PDMS) is used in its liquid state. From a macroscopic level, the cured solid–liquid hybrid-state PDMS (SLHP) composites reach a solid state, which is stable and flexible enough to be used in LED devices. Compared with LEDs using conventional QD/solid PDMS composites at equal color conversion efficiency ranging from 40% to 60%, the luminous flux of LEDs with QD/SLHP composites is increased by 13.0% using an optimized methyl-PDMS concentration of 85 wt. %. As a result, high efficiency QD-LEDs using QDs as the only color convertor with luminous efficacy of 89.6 lm/W (0.19 A) were achieved, which show a working stability comparable with that using conventional solid-state structures at a harsh condition. Consequently, the novel approach shows great potential for achieving high efficiency and high stability QD-LEDs, which is also compatible with current structures used in illumination and display applications.

Due to their good color rendering ability, white light-emitting diodes (WLEDs) with conventional phosphor and quantum dots (QDs) are gaining increasing attention. However, their optical and thermal performances are still limited especially for the ones with QDs-phosphor mixed nanocomposites. In this work, we propose a novel packaging scheme with horizontally layered QDs-phosphor nanocomposites to obtain an enhanced optical and thermal performance for WLEDs. Three different WLEDs, including QDs-phosphor mixed type, QDs-outside type, and QDs-inside type, were fabricated and compared. With 30 wt. % phosphor and 0.15 wt. % QDs nanocomposite, the QDs-outside type WLED shows a 21.8% increase of luminous efficiency, better color rendering ability, and a 27.0% decrease of the maximum nanocomposite temperature at 400 mA, compared with the mixed-type WLED. The reduced re-absorption between phosphor and QDs is responsible for the performance enhancement when they are separated. However, such reduced absorption can be traded off by the improper layered configuration, which is demonstrated by the worst performance of the QDs-inside type. Further, we demonstrate that the higher energy transfer efficiency between excitation light and nanocomposite in the QDs-outside type WLED is the key reason for its enhanced optical and thermal performance.