Researchers from University of Waterloo’s Chemistry Department announced they have found the “holy grail” for lighting that could revolutionize LED manufacturing, according to a Canadian media CBC report.
The research team led by Associate Professor Pavle Radovanovic have developed a chemically synthesized nanoparticles that could reduce the LED industry’s reliance on using rare earth metals for color tuning.
According to a press release on the department website, Radovanovic’s team combined nanoparticles that absorb energy from external sources with organic dye molecules to create pure white light that can be tuned to fall anywhere on the color spectrum.
“We are coming closer to actually being able to produce white light for any given environment,” said Radovanovic, who is also a member of the University’s Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology.
No further details were offered about the nanoparticle’s chemical structure, content or characteristics.
The nanoparticles could reduce LED manufacturing costs significantly, and the lab has successfully made a prototype LED using the particles. Radovanovic is already in talks with venture capitalists to create a local-start up company, and aims to start mass producing the LEDs in the next few years.
