LED lights are increasingly being used as they have a low energy consumption. One downside is the amount of light they can emit. The new development aims to keep the low-energy requirement but provide a brighter light.
The new LEDs, according to Controlled Environments magazine, are produced from a type of materials called organometal halide perovskites. Perovskite refers to a material that has a similar crystal structure to calcium titanium oxide. Perovskites are the starting point of the process, developed further using techniques of synthetic chemistry. This led to the formation of a surface-treated, highly crystalline nanomaterial.
In trials the new material is said to glow extremely bright. The material can measure 10,000 candelas per square meter at a power voltage of 12V. Candelas are one measure of luminescence. The name for the measure is a derivation of candle, although more sophisticated instruments are used to assess brightness. A typical LED glows at 400 candelas per square meter, a suitable level to power a computer screen. A candle itself would glow at around 135 candelas.
The new material can be made quickly (in less than one hour) and at a low cost. In tests the material is stable in the air and over a reasonable temperature range.
The research is crucial to the advance of LED technology, which is fast becoming an avenue to reduce the country’s 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.
The method was developed at Florida State University, by a team led by Professor Hanwei Gao and Professor Biwu Ma. The findings are published in the journal Advanced Materials. The paper is titled “Bright Light-Emitting Diodes Based on Organometal Halide Perovskite Nanoplatelets.”
