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Quick, what color comes to mind when you think of LEDs? If you said blue, you're in the majority, and there's a good reason for that. Blue LEDs happen to be the most energy efficient of the bunch, which might explain why there's not a ton of color variation in the LED world. Jason Hartlove, CEO of Nanosys, thinks that's about to change.
Hartlove was on hand at CES to talk about a type of nanotechnology that could ultimately lead to LEDs with more vivid colors and a wider range of hues, all without sacrificing energy efficiency. So how does it work?
As Hartlove explains it, the technology involves taking a blue LED and adding a phosphor material built out of nanomaterials to create warm white lights. This special coating would allow LED makers to choose from a spectrum of colors.
"We use the same process nature has to architect nanomaterials that provide greater wavelength range," Hartlove explained.
The best part about this approach is that it should be relatively cheap to implement. Companies can easily add the material to their existing process line, Hartlove says, negating the need for costly new factories or significant hardware upgrades.
Look for products using Nanosys' technology to debut this year.
Image Credit: treehugger.com
Comments are closed on this article
frizzly
January 13, 2010 at 1:52pm
first off I thought of green becouse of the lights on my router, modem and pc case. but anyway, this could possibly have a big impact on TVs as well. there are already LED TVs that give better lights and darks than LCD TVs. and those tv are sweet. just look at the 47 inch LG LED TV, ausome. now think of that with more vibrant colors too. cant wait.
Frizzly Mejere
"Once you go down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny."
JohnP
January 12, 2010 at 12:46pm
There is a lot of misconceptions about LED color. Most "white" LEDs are not white but use phosphors to change the color. Florescent lights do the same thing, take UV light and turn it into warm, cool, daylight white light according to the phosphor. The only thing "new" here is the size of the phosphor (which is usually a powder to begin with).
Tekzel
January 12, 2010 at 7:45am
Boooo, I'm not in the majority :( I thought of white. What does that say about me?
Caboose
January 12, 2010 at 12:41pm
I thought of "Uhh.. Uhh.. Uhh.."
THE PRESSURE IS TOO GREAT!!
-= I don't want to be dead, I want to be alive! Or... a cowboy! =-
