Light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, are an energy efficient source of light. They have many advantages over incandescent and fluorescent lights: they are more energy efficient and last longer. But LEDs are not perfect, and they could be better.

Problems with current LEDs

One problem with current LEDs is that they generate heat: not nearly as much heat as incandescent bulbs, but still some heat. If you have an LED light and you’ve ever held your hand close to it, you will know that it doesn’t get very hot. However, according to EurekAlert, in situations that require intense lighting, like vehicle headlights and stadium lighting, LEDs can get hot and this can cause problems.

LEDs get hot because the portion of energy that doesn’t get used to make light becomes heat instead. This causes the LED to get hot and that changes its properties. It may become less energy efficient or change color slightly.

Using computers to search for better LEDs

A chemistry professor at the University of Houston has been awarded a $656,000 NSF grant to look into this problem. Professor Jakoah Brgoch uses computers to better understand chemistry. What do computers have to do with chemistry? By making simulations, chemists can explore different models of how certain chemicals react with each other. Or, as in this case, they can explore how different materials would behave at various temperatures.

The goal of this research is to find LEDs that work well at low temperatures and continue to work well at high temperatures. In a few years, this technology might come to market and could be helpful for any number of situations that require intense light. If that does happen, Relumination will be there to help you choose the best option for your business. Please contact us if you have any questions about LED lighting.