Atomic-scale investigations solve key puzzle of LED efficiency
Thursday, May 23, 2013 - 19:10
in Physics & Chemistry
From the high-resolution glow of flat screen televisions to light bulbs that last for years, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) continue to transform technology. The celebrated efficiency and versatility of LEDs -- and other solid-state technologies including laser diodes and solar photovoltaics -- make them increasingly popular. Their full potential, however, remains untapped, in part because the semiconductor alloys that make these devices work continue to puzzle scientists. Scientists have now used electron microscopy imaging techniques to settle a solid-state controversy and raise new experimental possibilities.