A Japanese research team has announced on January 10 that it developed a new efficiently deep ultraviolet sterilization LED lamp, featuring small volume, electricity saving, environmentally and long lasting ,compared to traditional low pressure mercury lamp.

Currently, low pressure mercury lamps are widely used in medical and food application. Because of the environmental harm caused by mercury, researchers are seeking for substitutes.

Deep UV is an ultraviolet ray that has short wavelength with high efficient of killing bacteria. And the substrate crystallization has influence on brightness, luminous efficiency and lifetime for deep UV LED lamp of 260 nm wavelength. A research led by Tokyo University of Foreign Studies and Tokuyama chemical company have develop high technology which can make high performance Aluminium Nitride substrate crystallization, to overcome the problem.

This new LED lamp can work with dry battery, and be used in portable sterilization device and nutrient solution sterilization. The technology has received basic patents from Japan and United States, and is scheduled to be commercial in 2015.