Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd. (TOKYO:7282) has developed deep ultraviolet (UV-C) LEDs with light output that is among the highest in the world.1 UV-C is used in disinfection as it destroys viral and bacterial DNA structures and inhibits their replication. As an alternative light source for mercury lamps used for disinfection, improved performance of UV-C LEDs has been expected. Sample sales of Toyoda Gosei’s high power LEDs will begin internationally from April 2024,2 to promote their wider use for disinfecting water, air and surface.
Compared with mercury lamps, UV-C LEDs are environmentally-friendly as it is mercury-free, more compact, and have a longer life. These advantages promoted their wide use in devices for disinfecting air and surfaces during the Covid-19 pandemic. Since they differ from lighting LEDs in composition, however, light output has been still limited. For water purification plants and other situations where high disinfection performance is needed, mercury lamps are still used.
Toyoda Gosei has leveraged its expertise in crystallization and design of blue LEDs for lighting, and successfully developed UV-C LEDs that achieve light output at the level of 200 milliwatts with a single chip when driven by a current of 350 milliamperes. Improvement of the LED structure and composition quadrupled the amount of light that can be extracted. Enhanced LED performance including disinfecting capability of about three times higher will expand their applicable areas including a future alternative to mercury lamps, contributing to more hygienic and safer living.
