Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are a simple invention that has the potential to radically change the lighting sector. Don’t know much about them? Here are three important things you need to know to get up to speed:
1. What does the acronym LED stand for?
Light-emitting diode
A diode is an electrical device or component with two electrodes (an anode and a cathode) through which electricity flows, usually in one direction only (input through the anode and output through the cathode). Diodes are usually made from semiconductor materials such as silicon or selenium – substances that conduct electricity in some circumstances and not in others (for example, at certain voltages, current levels or light intensities).
2. What is LED lighting?
A light-emitting diode is a semiconductor device that emits visible light when an electric current is passed through it. It is essentially the opposite of a photovoltaic cell (a device that converts visible light into an electric current).
Did you know? There is a similar device called an IRED (Infrared Emitting Diode). Instead of visible light, IRED devices emit infrared energy when an electric current is passed through them.
3. How do LED lights work?
It’s actually very simple, and very cheap to produce, which is why there was so much excitement when LED lights were invented!
Technical details: LEDs are made up of two types of semiconductor material (a p-type and an n-type). The p-type and n-type materials, also known as extringent materials, have been doped (immersed in a substance called a “doping agent”) to slightly alter their electrical properties compared with their pure, unaltered or “intrinsic” form (i-type).
Type p and type n materials are created by introducing atoms of another element into the original material. These new atoms replace some of the existing atoms and, in so doing, change the physical and chemical structure. P-type materials are created by using elements (such as boron) that have fewer valence electrons than the intrinsic material (often silicon).
N-type materials are created using elements (such as phosphorus) that have more valence electrons than the intrinsic material (often silicon). The net effect is the creation of a p-n junction with interesting and useful properties for electronic applications. These properties depend mainly on the external voltage applied to the circuit (if any) and the direction of the current (i.e. which side, the p-type or the n-type, is connected to the positive terminal and which is connected to the negative terminal).
Application of technical details:
When a light-emitting diode (LED) has a voltage source connected with the positive side on the anode and the negative side on the cathode, current flows (and light is emitted, a condition known as forward bias).
If the positive and negative ends of the voltage source were connected in reverse (positive at the cathode and negative at the anode), current would not flow (a condition known as reverse bias). Forward bias allows current to flow through the LED and, in so doing, emit light. Reverse bias prevents the current from flowing through the LED (at least up to a certain point where it is unable to keep the current at bay – known as reverse peak voltage – a point which, if reached, will irreversibly damage the device).
While all of this may sound incredibly technical, the takeaway for consumers is that LEDs have changed the lighting landscape for the better, and the practical applications of this technology are almost limitless. You can check out all our LED bulbs for your chandeliers and other lighting equipment.