As the efficiency of mid-infrared LEDs has advanced, they have assumed increasing importance in sensitive gas optical sensors, most prominently for methane and carbon, and LED arrays for defense-related projection systems. While cascading and superlattice quantum design has advanced efficiency, a key limiting mechanism in these devices is heavy loss from total internal reflection due to the very high index of refraction (~3.8). Here we report on the substantial enhancement of spectral radiance in one- and two-color LED emitters using a microcavity approach, and enhancement in overall radiance of single color emitters using micropillar structured devices.
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