LED Lighting
January 20th, 2008
LED has filled specialist niches for lighting requirements. It is commonly used for traffic lights, flashlights and architectural purposes. LED lighting is flexible and operates less expensively than traditional lighting. It was accidentally discovered by a graduate student trying to make really small quantum dots. Quantum dots may contain from 100 to 1,000 electrons. The smaller these quantum dots are, the easier they are excited. This particular group contained exceptionally small ones which reacted by producing a white glow when applied with electricity or shined with a light.
LED lamps have current efficiencies of 30% with much higher levels possibly attainable plus a lifetime of more or less 50,000 hours. It is struggling to deliver the required intensity of light output for domestic use and maintaining a reasonable working lifespan at a reasonable cost as well.