There’s a little more push to develop the UV LED now, since Crystal IS just got a big $800,000 grant from the US Department of Defense to push along the technology. UV LED’s, from that Aluminum Nitride substrate that creates germ killing light at around 265nm.
265nm, which is in the ultraviolet range, is apparently the germ killing mega-range of wavelengths of light. So now you know.
Here’s the press release:
Crystal IS wins $800,000 Department of Defense grant to develop deep UV LEDs
Date Announced: 28 Nov 2008
— Defense appropriation will accelerate development of UV-LED devices for water and air purification
Green Island, NY —— Crystal IS, Inc., the world’s leading
manufacturer of ultraviolet (UV) LEDs based on aluminum nitride (AlN)
substrate technology, today announced it will receive an $800,000
appropriation from the U.S. Department of Defense to advance
development of large AlN crystals for effective deep ultraviolet
sources.“Our unique technology allows us to manufacture UV LEDs with
unsurpassed performance at truly commercially viable costs,” said
Crystal IS CEO Steven Berger. “This grant serves as yet another
validation of using AlN-based UV-LEDs to enable cleaner water and air
for consumer, industrial and government customers.”As part of the program, Crystal IS will partner with the Army
Research Laboratory in Adelphi, MD as well as the Electro-Optics Center
(EOC) at Penn State University.The program will leverage the recent development of large
single-crystal AlN substrates into robust semiconductor sources of deep
ultraviolet light as well as other high power, high temperature
applications of great importance to the military.AlN has been demonstrated to be superior for deep UV light-emitting
applications. The primary applications of UV-LEDs are as long-lasting,
energy efficient, water and air disinfection devices. Crystal IS Inc is
developing its deep UV-LEDs at 265nm, the peak germicidal wavelength.About Crystal IS
Crystal IS, Inc. is the market leader in the commercialization of
single-crystal aluminum nitride (AlN) substrates for the cost-effective
production of long lasting, energy efficient, water and air
purification devices. Visit www.crystal-is.com for more information.
Contact
Crystal IS, Inc., Green Island, NYE-mail: info@crystal-is.com
Web Site: www.crystal-is.com
