SemiLEDs Corporation announced Wednesday the launch of the P5 UV LED, a new high power 5W 365nm UV LED in a silicon casing in ready to use format.

SemiLEDs P5 UV LEDs are made using its patented vertical MvpLED™ chips which feature a copper-alloy base in a silicon casing with a UV glass encapsulation. The advantages of SemiLEDs MvpLED™ chips are delivered through these unique features as the copper-alloy base and silicon casing allow for maximum heat transfer from the junction to the board or heat sink, a crucial element to optimizing the lifetime of the UV LED. Furthermore, SemiLEDs 365nm P5 UV LEDs’ superior thermal management is combined with optical advantages which facilitate designs using higher drive currents to maximize light density. With a very small physical SMT footprint, the P5 is designed for 5W operation or 1.5A drive current, suitable for applications such as polymer curing.

UV LEDs have had a growing impact on a large and diverse group of UV market segments such as curing, currency/document verification, tanning, medical and sterilization. The benefits of UV LEDs over traditional mercury lamps are illustrated through their flexibility, compactness, cost effectiveness and absence of mercury, a notorious pollutant. UV LEDs are greatly enhancing applications in UV market segments and with UV LEDs poised to replace traditional UV lamps, a wide array of new applications are expected to further drive the UV LED market in the future.