An engineering professor from Florida State University has claimed to have developed a highly efficient and low cost LED that could be the catalyst for more widespread adoption of the technology.
The research is crucial to the development of LED technology, which is fast becoming an avenue to reduce electric consumption. LED lighting is already sold in stores, but widespread adoption has been slow because of the costs associated with the material and the quality.
According to the US Department of Energy, residential LED lighting uses at least 75% less energy than regular incandescent lighting.
"It can potentially revolutionise lighting technology," said Assistant Professor of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering Zhibin Yu. "In general, the cost of LED lighting has been a big concern thus far. Energy savings have not balanced out high costs. This could change that."
Yu developed his LED technology using a combination of organic and inorganic materials. The material, which dissolves and can be applied like paint, shines a blue, green or red light and can be used to make a light bulb.
Most LED materials require engineers to put four or five layers of material on top of each other to create the desired product or effect. Yu says his material only requires one layer.
His research has resulted in an award by the US National Science Foundation to further investigate the essential materials and establish the processing platform for the development of intrinsically stretchable, active-matrix organic LED displays.
Author
Tom Austin-Morgan
Source: www.newelectronics.co.uk