NanoMarkets has released a new white paper on LED phosphors, titled "LED Lighting Driving Demand for New Phosphors."

According to the report, in the next several years, saturation will slow growth for LED-based backlighting, phosphor prices will fall, LED-per-unit values will be reduced, display demand will soften, and backlight-free display technologies like AMOLEDs will take over market share in smartphones/tablets and TVs.

However, a major shift occurring in the lighting industry toward more-efficient, longer-lifetime, LED-based lighting, will more than make up for the slowing display market.

Currently, governments are encouraging to use LED lighting products with new regulations and subsidies. LED lighting will enjoy the benefits of these mandates. Therefore, growth in sales of LED phosphors will be driven by sales to the LED lighting industry. Backlighting LEDs are growing at <5% annually; LED lighting is growing at about 30% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), by LED count.

The report points out that better phosphors are needed to bring LED lighting into wider use. Phosphors are one of the keys to achieving the ambitious LED lighting market penetration goals and differentiating the quality of LED lighting products versus other technologies. Phosphors can improve the quality of LED light to meet consumers’ demand, as a result, LEDs are still many times more expensive than incandescent bulbs.