Optimising the electroluminescence performance of ZnS: Cu/epoxy composites via exploring the relationship between electroluminescence intensity and filler intrinsic attributes

Abstract Electroluminescent composites have considerable potential for applications in photoelectric display, electric field measurement and other fields due to their advantages of simple preparation and uniform luminescence. However, high voltage required by the operation of electroluminescent composites hinders their applications in the electric domain, and research on the relationship between electroluminescence principle of composites and filler intrinsic attributes is insufficient. In this paper, the effects of electric field strength, filler mass fraction and voltage frequency on the electroluminescence intensity of ZnS:Cu/epoxy composites are studied, which are majorly used as the luminescent layer of electroluminescent devices. To enhance the electroluminescence intensity of composites, high‐temperature sintered BaTiO3 and zinc oxide whiskers (ZnOw) particles are introduced in the base matrix. The finite element method is applied to verify that the matrix of high dielectric constant is in favour of improving the electroluminescence intensity of composites. The band structure of the ZnS:Cu particle is calculated based on the density functional theory + U method to analyse the intrinsic relationship between electroluminescence and particle electronic structure. This paper provides a basis for the research of high electroluminescence intensity devices and will be conducive to better understanding on the relationship between electroluminescence principle and filler intrinsic attributes.